WhatsApp may stop working on these old Android phones starting January 1

WhatsApp is the one messaging app we use daily to chat with friends, colleagues, and family. However, if you use WhatsApp on an old Android phone, there may be bad news. The company mentioned how the app will reportedly stop working on old Android devices starting in 2025, and you may need to take action right away.

Here’s why you may not be able to use WhatsApp on your Android smartphone from next year and what you can do to continue using it.

WhatsApp to end support for old Android smartphones

WhatsApp will reportedly end support for old Android smartphones from January 1, 2025. Old Android devices include phones that are running on Android KitKat or older versions. What this change means is that you cannot use the app on your old smartphone running on the aforesaid Android version or any version older than that.

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While the reason for this change isn’t fully clear, it’s most likely due to hardware limitations of old devices. Android KitKat was released back in 2013, which means devices that run on that operating system will have comparatively weaker hardware.

Since WhatsApp has been consistent in adding new features, especially ones like the Meta AI chatbot, video call effects, new emojis, and more, the limited hardware of old Android devices may not be able to handle or support these features. As a result, ending support for devices running on old operating system like Android KitKat was inevitable.

Some of the popular old Android devices that will lose WhatsApp support with this update from next year includes Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Sony Xperia Z, and Moto G, among others.

What can you do to continue using WhatsApp?

To continue using WhatsApp on your old Android phone, there’s only one thing that you can do. You’ll have to upgrade to a new smartphone, if not the latest, at least a newer one that runs on any Android version above Android KitKat.