WhatsApp has ended support for Android 5.0 and Android 5.1 Lollipop, leaving smartphones stuck on the decade-old software outside WhatsApp’s supported-device requirements and at risk of losing access.
The cutoff took effect September 8, raising the platform’s baseline requirement to Android 6.0 Marshmallow for both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business.
The shift was flagged in April, when WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp had begun showing affected users in-app notices about the coming cutoff.
The Meta-owned messaging platform said it periodically drops older operating systems because they might lack current security updates or functionality required to run the app. On its FAQ page, they explained its selection criteria:
“Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp,” the platform said.
Dropping Lollipop allows WhatsApp to focus development and security work on operating systems that can support its newer features.
The upgrade cost for affected users. For people who rely on older or secondhand phones, the cutoff may turn a software compatibility change into an unexpected hardware expense.
WhatsApp is widely used for personal communication and small-business messaging, so losing access can be more disruptive than retiring an ordinary mobile app.
Users whose phones cannot advance beyond Android 5 will need a compatible replacement device to continue using the service.
WhatsApp has not disclosed how many users are affected, however, making it difficult to measure the cutoff’s overall impact.
To be safe from the setback, phone users running Android 5.0 or 5.1 can verify whether their device supports a newer build by opening the device Settings menu, select System, Software Update, or About phone; check for and install any available firmware that brings the handset to Android 6.0 or higher.
If a manufacturer update is unavailable, users will need to move to a compatible device.
