WhatsApp is preparing to cease operations on some older smartphones.
"Ölkə.az" reports that starting from September 8, 2026, the application will no longer be supported on phones running systems below Android 6.0.
This decision will primarily affect owners of devices with Android 5.0 and 5.1 versions. On these phones, WhatsApp may not open, and it may not be possible to send or receive messages.
The company explains this with security and technical reasons. It is reported that the new encryption system and modern features do not work stably on older operating systems. This both reduces the application's speed and increases the risk of cyberattacks.
Users are advised to back up important correspondence and files in advance. It is possible to create a "backup" via Google Drive for this purpose.
If it is not possible to update the phone's software, it will be necessary to switch to a newer model device to continue using WhatsApp.
No serious restrictions are expected for iPhone users. The application will continue to function normally on devices running iOS 15.1 and newer versions.