WhatsApp Won’t Work on These Smartphones from 1 January 2021

Faizel Patel – 31/12/2020

While many across the globe will be glad to see the back of what has been described as a terrible 2020, a new WhatsApp update will prevent the popular messaging app from working on millions of phones from 1 January 2021.

Older Android and iPhone smartphones will no longer support the latest version of the Facebook owned app, forcing users to either update their mobile operating system or buy a new smartphone.

Any iPhone not running iOS 9 or newer, or any phone not running at least Android 4.0.3 – also known as Ice Cream Sandwich – will no longer be able to open or operate WhatsApp.

This means all iPhone models up to the iPhone 4 will be unable to support WhatsApp, as these phones are not capable of updating to iOS 9.

Similarly, if someone is using a Samsung Galaxy S2, will not be able to use WhatsApp.

Phones that will lose WhatsApp support from 1 January 2021 include:

Samsung Galaxy S2
Apple iPhone 1-4
HTC Desire
LG Optimus Black
Motorola Droid Razr
Android devices released before 2010

Devices that will need to update to iOS 9 or higher or Android OS 4.0.3 include:

Apple iPhone 4S
iPhone 5
iPhone 5S
iPhone 6
iPhone 6S
Samsung Galaxy S3 and newer
Samsung Galaxy Note
HTC Sensation
HTC Thunderbolt
LG Lucid
Motorola Droid 4
Sony Xperia Pro and newer

To find out what software you are using and whether you need to update before the new year:

Apple iOS: To check your devices software:

Go to: “General” and “About”.

To update to the latest Apple iOS software:

Go to: Settings > General > Software update

Android: To check your devices software:

Go to: Settings > About phone

To update to the latest Android software:

Go to: Settings > Software update

Smartphone users are also urged to back up their chats before 1 January if they want to retain them by going to:

WhatsApp >Settings > About phone

Chats > ‘Chat backup’.

WhatsApp has more than two billion users across the globe.

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