WhatsApp to End Support for Older Android Versions in September 2026

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is preparing to discontinue support for a number of older Android operating systems, a move expected to affect millions of users worldwide who still rely on aging devices.

The change will take effect on September 8, 2026, when the app will stop functioning on devices running versions earlier than Android 6.0. As a result, users of Android 5.0 and 5.1 will no longer be able to access the platform after that date.

However, WhatsApp will remain available to users operating on Android 6 and newer versions, provided they install a supported version of the application, according to reports from WABetaInfo, a website specializing in tracking WhatsApp updates.

The decision reflects a broader shift toward improving performance and expanding advanced features within the app. New functionalities increasingly require more capable operating environments, making it difficult for outdated systems to keep pace.

With operating systems advancing to much newer iterations such as Android 17, older versions are no longer equipped to handle modern updates. This has prompted companies to raise minimum system requirements to ensure better performance, security, and user experience.

Although analytics suggest that the proportion of users on older systems is relatively small, the group still represents millions globally. These users are concentrated in countries such as India, Brazil, and Pakistan, as well as parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, where older devices remain in use due to limited access to newer technology.

Many of these devices no longer receive official updates from manufacturers, widening the gap between hardware capabilities and application demands.

WhatsApp has already begun notifying affected users through in-app alerts, warning them of the upcoming end of support and specifying the September 2026 deadline. The company says the early notifications are intended to give users enough time to prepare.

Users are advised to take precautionary steps to secure their data, particularly by backing up chats. This can be done via Google Drive directly through the app settings or by saving a local copy on the device. These backups can later be restored on newer devices, reducing the risk of losing important information.