As per the latest development from WhatsApp parent company, Facebook (now Meta), the instant messaging platform may no longer serve customers who are running a phone with an older system. The update is going to come into effect on November 1st, Monday, after which some people might lose all their access to WhatsApp, including their chat histories.
Users whose phones support an earlier version of the operating system may want to either export or back up the data on another account in order to retrieve it once they get a newer version.
The company has suggested users to use another phone, which supports the update if they want to continue using the messaging app. Affected users include those having mobile phones running on Android 4.0.4 and older and iOS 9 & its predecessors.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp will support all devices with newer iOS systems and other KaiOS systems too.
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The news was announced through an updated FAQ page on its website where the company mentioned the development and the operating systems it will no longer be supporting starting Monday. If users switch to a phone supporting the newer variants and install the application, they will not lose their data. Alternately, you can also update your phone, if you have a new system update, to allow WhatsApp to continue working as it is.
If you are unaware of the operating system your device currently runs on, you may follow the below steps and ascertain it.
For Android devices:
Step 1:
Go to Settings, select About Phone option
Step 2:
Based on the mobile company, scroll down the options list to find the Android version your device is running on
Step 3:
Once you get to it and find that it is Android 4.0.4 or previous versions, you can try searching for an option to update your phone. This way, your Android version can be updated without changing the phone altogether.
However, if you do not have any option or it says that your phone does not have any new update to download, your last chance is to change your phone itself if you want to use WhatsApp. Before this, you should export or backup all your individual or group chats.
While WhatsApp supports Android 4.1 and newer options, iOS 10 and descendants, it will also run smoothly on Jio Phones like Jio Phone and Jio Phone 2 that are working on KaiOS 2.5.0 and later.
As per a report on Telangana Today, the smartphone variants mentioned below will no longer let users have access to WhatsApp from November 1st:
Android:
LG: Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F3Q. Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II, Dual Best L7 II, Dual Optimus L5, Best L5 II, Optimus L5, Dual Best L3 II, Optimus Nitro HD, Optimus L7, Optimus L7, Optimus F6, Enact Optimus F3, Best L4 II, Best L2 II, and Optimus 4X HD.
Sony: Xperia Arc S, Xperia Miro, and Xperia Neo L.
Samsung: Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy SII, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Core, and Galaxy Trend II.
ZTE: Grand X Quad V987, ZTE V956, Grand Memo and Grand S Flex.
Apple:
iPhone 6s plus, iPhone SE and iPhone 6.
