Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, confirmed that the messaging application will no longer be compatible with dozens of smartphone models from January 1, 2026. The measure will affect devices that operate with operating systems considered obsolete, including devices from established brands such as Apple, Samsung, LG and Motorola, which no longer have the technical capacity to receive the necessary updates.
The decision, which follows an annual requirements review pattern, aims to strengthen the platform’s security and ensure the implementation of new features that require more processing and software resources. Aparelhos with older versions of Android and iOS cannot support the new encryption protocols and tools being developed, making maintaining support unfeasible for the development team.
Users who own the listed models will be notified in advance directly through the app. The company recommends that owners of these cell phones start planning the migration of their data, making backups of conversations and media to avoid losing important information. The transition to a more modern device is the only solution to continue using the service without interruptions after the established deadline.
How to check if your smartphone will be impacted
To determine whether your device is on the discontinuation list, the first step is to check the version of the operating system installed. On Android devices, the path is usually “Settings”, followed by “About phone” and “Software information”. Ideally, the system should be Android 6.0 or higher to ensure future compatibility.
On iPhones, the process is similar. The user must access “Settings”, then “General” and then “About”. Nessa screen, the iOS version will be displayed. WhatsApp has required newer versions of the Apple system, and devices that are unable to update beyond iOS 12, for example, are among those that will lose access to the messaging app.
Samsung devices on the incompatibility list
Samsung, one of the largest cell phone manufacturers in the world, has several classic models that will be affected by the change. Esses devices, which were extremely popular in their time, today operate with versions of Android that no longer receive security or system updates, making them vulnerable and incompatible with modern applications.
Among the specific models of the South Korean brand that will no longer have access to WhatsApp are the Samsung Galaxy Core, the Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite and the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2. Esses devices marked an era of popularization of smartphones, but their hardware and software limitations prevent the messenger from running safely.
The list also includes other names known to consumers, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, the Samsung Galaxy Trend II and the Samsung Galaxy X cover 2. Usuários who still use these cell phones as their main or secondary device will need to look for alternatives to stay connected with friends, family and professional contacts.
LG, Motorola and other brands are also affected
Discontinuation of support is not limited to Apple and Samsung. LG, which closed its cell phone division in 2021, still has a user base with older models that will be impacted. Aparelhos of the Optimus line, such as L3 II Dual, L5 II, F5, L3 II, L7II, L5 Dual, L7
Motorola, another brand with a strong presence in the Brazilian market, will also see some of its older models lose access. The first generation of Moto G and Moto E, which were responsible for redefining the intermediary segment, no longer meet the minimum requirements to run the application in a stable and secure manner.
The Sony also appears in the relationship with smartphones that were once top of the line, such as the Sony Xperia Z2 and the Xperia Z3. Esses devices, launched almost a decade ago, have not kept up with the evolution of operating systems and communication technologies implemented by WhatsApp in recent years.
The Huawei, in turn, has models such as the Ascend Mate, Ascend G740 and Ascend D2 among those that will be discontinued. The measure reinforces that the longevity of a smartphone is directly linked to its ability to receive software updates, a crucial factor for digital security and compatibility with the main applications on the market.
Apple models that will no longer run the application
In the Apple ecosystem, the discontinuation affects a series of iPhones that were milestones in the company’s history, but which today have significant technical limitations. Esses devices are not capable of running newer versions of the iOS operating system, leaving them stuck on versions like iOS 12 or earlier. Essa inability to update prevents them from receiving crucial security patches and makes them incompatible with the new requirements of applications like WhatsApp, which depend on APIs and security protocols present only in more modern systems.
The list of iPhones that will lose support includes iconic models such as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. Além of them, the popular iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus duo, which broke sales records at its launch, will also no longer be compatible with the messenger. Although these devices still work for basic tasks, old hardware, such as 32-bit or early 64-bit processors, and the limited amount of RAM, are no longer able to offer a satisfactory and secure user experience for current digital communication standards.
The technical reasons for ending support
Meta’s decision to end support for older cell phones is based on a technical and strategic need for the evolution of WhatsApp. Manter Compatibility with obsolete operating systems represents a major development challenge and a security risk for the entire base of more than two billion users. Versões older Android and iOS do not have the necessary security frameworks to robustly support end-to-end encryption, leaving gaps that could be exploited by malicious actors. Além Furthermore, maintaining legacy code for these systems consumes resources that could be directed towards creating new functionalities and improving the experience on more modern devices. The evolution of the application, with features such as high definition video calls with multiple participants, sending files of up to 2 GB, creating communities and integration with artificial intelligence, requires hardware and software capable of processing these tasks efficiently. Aparelhos with more than a decade of release was simply not designed for this reality, and forcing compatibility would result in a slow, unstable and insecure application for everyone.
What to do to avoid losing your conversations and files
For users who will be affected by the change, the most urgent action is to ensure the security of their chat and media history. WhatsApp offers native tools for creating cloud backups. On Android devices, the backup is performed through Google Drive, while on iPhones, the service used is iCloud. It is essential to perform a full backup before the end date to ensure that no information is lost during the migration to a new smartphone.
