WhatsApp, one of the most popular instant messaging apps, has announced that it will drop support for some old Android and iOS-running devices. It was first launched on iPhones, and shortly after it made its way to Android phones.
WhatsApp currently supports devices with Android versions 4.0 or later and iOS 12 or later. However, as per a recent blog post, Meta-owned instant messaging app will drop support for Android v4.0x and instead require Android v5.0 or later. There’s no change to iOS 12 or even KaiOS 2.5.0 (JioPhone and JioPhone 2) starting Oct 24, 2023.
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Hence, if you are using Android 4.0x versions on your device; you will not be able to use starting Oct 24. With hundreds of devices running Android 4.0x, it’s impossible to write every smartphone’s model. However, two quick steps can tell you if you are on the safer side—or if you need to upgrade. Depending on the model, go to Settings > About or About Phone. If the Android version is 4.0x, make sure to check for software updates, too. It might bring good luck for you.
It’s worth noting that WhatsApp isn’t stretching too much on Android users. It said that it would support Android v5.0 (Lollipop) or later which came in 2014—nearly a decade ago, however, Meta-owned WhatsApp has dropped support for iOS 11 which was released in 2017—six years ago.
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Meanwhile, WhatsApp continues to update itself with new features — the latest notes Channels. As per reports, WhatsApp will also be unveiling its iPad app, possibly by the end of this year.
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