iPhone Users: Update Now or Lose WhatsApp!

WhatsApp on iPhone is about to stop working! Well, at least for some users. If you’re still rocking an older iPhone with iOS 12, 13, or 14, you need to pay attention. Starting May 5, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer work on iPhones running iOS versions earlier than 15.1.

What Does This Mean?

No more texting. No more calls. No more group chats. If you’re still on an outdated iOS version, you won’t be able to use WhatsApp at all—not even through an older beta version on TestFlight. And it’s not just the regular WhatsApp app—WhatsApp Business is also getting the axe. Both apps share the same underlying code, so if one stops working, the other does too.

Why Is WhatsApp Doing This?

The main reason is technology advancement. Newer iOS versions come with updated APIs and performance improvements that WhatsApp needs to roll out new features. By cutting off older versions, WhatsApp can streamline its app, ensuring better security, faster updates, and more exciting features that wouldn’t be possible with outdated operating systems. Keeping older versions alive would mean relying on deprecated code, which makes things messy and slows down development.

Another factor? User data. WhatsApp likely analyzed how many people are still using older iOS versions and found that it’s a small fraction of users. By shifting focus to newer iOS versions, they can improve the experience for the majority of users while minimizing the inconvenience for those still clinging to decade-old devices.

Who’s Affected?

If you’re using an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus, this update will completely cut off WhatsApp for you. These devices can’t update past iOS 12.5.7, so you won’t be able to get past the new WhatsApp requirement.

However, if you have a newer iPhone running an older iOS version (anything below iOS 15.1), you can still update your phone. Just go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest iOS version available for your device.

What Should You Do Now?

If you want to keep using WhatsApp, you need to update to iOS 15.1 or newer ASAP. If your phone doesn’t support iOS 15.1, it’s time to start thinking about an upgrade.

Android users, don’t worry—this change only affects iPhone users, so you’re safe for now.

Stay ahead of WhatsApp updates by following WABetaInfo on X and checking out the latest WhatsApp beta features for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows. Whatever you do, don’t wait until it’s too late—update now and stay connected!