Photo credits: Reuters
Photo credits: Reuters WhatsApp has dropped support for smartphones running on Android 4.4 KitKat and older and iOS 10 and iOS 11 starting October 24, 2023. This means that WhatsApp no longer works on older Android phones and iPhones running on these older OS versions. WhatsApp stated that they stopped supporting older operating systems to focus on the latest ones.
"To choose what to stop supporting, every year we, like other technology companies, look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest number of people still using them. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp," reads the official blog post of WhatsApp.
Meta regularly updates WhatsApp to improve it for current operating systems, adding new features like multi-account switching and extra security measures. Meta encourages users to update WhatsApp regularly to get these new features and security fixes. Users who don't update WhatsApp risk being exposed to online threats and missing out on new features.
The following phones will no longer support WhatsApp:
Notably, if your device is no longer supported by WhatsApp, you will need to update your operating system or get a new device running a newer OS in order to continue using the app. Otherwise, you will not be able to send or receive messages, make or receive calls, or use any other WhatsApp features. Additionally, the WhatsApp version installed on affected devices will not receive any updates, including new features and security enhancements.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp has been releasing a lot of new features for Android users in recent weeks. The biggest update is the ability to use multiple WhatsApp accounts on the same device, instead of having to install multiple copies of the app. Additionally, according to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp developers are also testing new features like voice messages and stickers, as well as a way to hide locked chats.
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