WhatsApp to phase out support for iPhone 6 by the year 2025
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, has announced that it will stop supporting certain devices starting from June 1, 2025. This change will affect both iOS and Android users who are still running older operating system versions.
For iOS users, WhatsApp will no longer function on iPhones running iOS 15.0 or older versions. This means that the iPhone 6 and its older models will lose WhatsApp support from June 1, 2025[1][2][3]. If you're an iPhone user and find yourself stuck on iOS 15.0 or older, you may need to consider upgrading your operating system or switching to alternative messaging apps.
On the Android side, while the exact policy post-May 2025 isn't specified, historically WhatsApp phases out support for older Android versions but often provides longer support windows. However, for very old Android devices, support may be limited[4]. In such cases, users might want to consider using other messaging apps that have more flexible device OS requirements, such as Signal or Telegram. Alternatively, upgrading the Android OS or using a lightweight or web-based messaging client version compatible with older systems could be options.
Here's a summary of the changes:
| Platform | WhatsApp Support After May 2025 | Alternatives / Notes | |---------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | iPhone with iOS ≤ 15.0 | Unsupported starting June 1, 2025 | Upgrade iOS if possible, or use alternative messaging apps | | Older Android devices | Not explicitly stated, but support often limited for very old versions | Signal, Telegram, or web versions of WhatsApp may help |
It's worth noting that budget-conscious Android users might find usable phones on the Android platform. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S5, an Android device released in 2014, will still be able to run WhatsApp after May 5, 2025[5].
In countries like Zimbabwe, where iMessage is not available, WhatsApp remains the dominant messaging app[6]. Therefore, understanding these changes and finding suitable alternatives is crucial for many users.
[1] WhatsApp Supported Phones and Operating Systems [2] WhatsApp stops working on some iPhones and Android phones from June 1 [3] WhatsApp to drop support for iPhone 6 and older in June 2025 [4] WhatsApp to end support for Android 5.0 and older in May 2025 [5] Samsung Galaxy S5 [6] WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app in Zimbabwe
- Smartphones like the iPhone 6 and older models running iOS 15.0 or lower will no longer support WhatsApp from June 1, 2025, making it necessary for some users to either upgrade their operating system or switch to alternative messaging apps.
- For Android users, while the exact policy post-May 2025 isn't specified, older devices may have limited support, and users might want to consider using messaging apps like Signal or Telegram, or web versions of WhatsApp, or upgrading their Android OS to continue using WhatsApp smoothly.
