Popular messaging application WhatsApp is set to cease to function on a number of iPhone and Android devices, effective June 1, 2025.
Following a slight delay from the initially scheduled phase-out, older iPhones and Android devices with outdated operating systems will no longer support the messaging app. The original phase-out was set to take place on May 5.
For iPhone users, they will need devices running iOS 15.1 or later, effective June 1, to be able to seamlessly operate WhatsApp.
Similarly, Android users using an operating system earlier than 5.1 will also not be able to use WhatsApp in any form and will be unable to send or receive messages on the app.
People who will mostly be affected by this move are owners of older models of phones, which may no longer support the 2025 system updates.
More specifically, the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus users will lose support of the messaging app since these devices are incompatible with the required iOS version.
As far as the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are concerned, there are conflicting reports about their compatibility with WhatsApp as of June 1, 2025, particularly because these models currently support iOS versions up to 15.8.4, which still meet WhatsApp’s minimum requirements.
Kenyans.co.ke has since confirmed that while WhatsApp versions on some models currently support iOS versions up to 15.8.4 and can be rendered obsolete, they should remain functional as long as the latest available iOS is installed, since they still meet the app's minimum requirements.
That said, iPhone 6s and 6s owners may want to start saving for a newer model, as their devices will likely be phased out within the next two years or less.
Meta has yet to issue a comprehensive list of affected Android devices, but phones that are unable to upgrade beyond Android 5.0 will certainly not support WhatsApp.
Although the number of devices affected is quite small relative to WhatsApp's global user base of over 3 billion, the latest update still sets to leave a segment of users inconvenienced, particularly if they are unaware of the recent change.
One way to avoid the surprise phase-out is to verify a device's current operating system and ensure that it meets the new minimum requirements. If an update is no longer available, the next course of action will be to acquire a new device.
