Starting November 30, 2026, WhatsApp will no longer work on iPhones that don’t run at least iOS 15.5. The change, confirmed by Meta itself, also affects WhatsApp Business and represents another step in the company’s policy of abandoning old versions of the Apple system.
The current requirement is still iOS 15.1, in effect since December 2025. With the new cutoff, users who have devices limited to intermediate versions of iOS 15 will need to update the device before the deadline. WABetaInfo, a website specializing in app leaks, was the first to detail the exact date.
Which models may be affected
Theoretically, the cutoff line reaches iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus and the first generation iPhone SE. In practice, all of these models have already received official updates up to iOS 15.8, which keeps them compatible for now. However, the useful life of these devices is increasingly shorter.
Anyone who is unable to update to iOS 15.5 or higher will simply lose access to the messenger. Unlike browsers or other apps, WhatsApp stops running completely because it depends on a common system base to guarantee security and compatibility between users.
Why WhatsApp makes these cuts
Meta conducts internal research to measure the impact before each change. The goal is to focus resources on modern versions, which allow you to implement new privacy functions, calls and integration with the Apple ecosystem without breaking the app for the majority of users. The number of people affected should be small, according to the company itself.
Parallel change on Android
The iOS update does not come alone. From September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will also require Android 6.0 or higher — previously it was Android 5.0. This increase of an entire generation in Google’s system should affect a greater volume of older devices, especially models launched before 2015.
What to do to keep using
- Check your current iOS version in Settings > General > About.
- Update the system as soon as possible to avoid interruptions.
- Users of very old iPhones without official support for iOS 15.5 or higher will need to migrate to a newer model.
This movement reinforces the tendency of messengers and digital services to shorten the life cycle of devices to prioritize security and innovation. Those who still use iPhones from the 2015-2016 generation should prepare for the inevitable replacement in the coming months.
