Millions of Smartphones to Lose WhatsApp Support from September 2026

WhatsApp has announced that starting September 8, 2026, it will no longer support smartphones running Android versions older than 6.0. Due to the inability to provide new features and security updates on these outdated Android versions, the company has taken this step. This means millions of smartphones will lose access to WhatsApp this year.

With WhatsApp’s system updates planned for 2026 by Meta, WhatsApp will stop functioning on millions of older Android smartphone models. From September 8 onward, WhatsApp will no longer work on devices running Android versions below 6.0. Phones operating on Android 5.0 or 5.1 will see WhatsApp completely disabled.

WhatsApp has been progressively discontinuing support for older devices to ensure users can benefit from the latest features and enhanced security. Older models typically do not support new updates, posing increased security risks. This issue is especially significant in developing and third-world countries, where many users still rely on smartphones that are 8 to 10 years old.

Support for models such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Nexus 4, and LG G2 has already been discontinued. Starting this September, WhatsApp has begun sending notifications to users whose devices will no longer be supported. If your phone is running Android older than 6.0, you can expect to receive a notification from WhatsApp soon. In this situation, you have two options: first, if your phone supports an Android update, upgrade to a newer version; if an update is not possible, you will need to purchase a new phone to continue using WhatsApp.