WhatsApp to drop support for older Android versions in September 2026
Starting September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will drop support for versions older than Android 6. Users will still be able to access WhatsApp as long as they are on the latest supported version of the app and running Android 6 or newer.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Story about: | Android support update |
| When does it take effect: | September 8, 2026 |
| Compatibility: | Only Android 6 and newer versions will be supported in the future. |
| Thanks: | Akan and Federico Trevisani, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp Plus launches premium features for a monthly fee! |
WhatsApp is working on notification bubbles
Last week, we reported that WhatsApp is working on introducing support for notification bubbles. This feature will allow conversations to appear as floating icons on the screen. Users will be able to enable bubbles by tapping a dedicated icon in the notification view. Although recent versions of Android already allow users to open apps in a floating window, WhatsApp will make this process simpler through a new button in the notification interface. So this feature will make it more convenient for users to access their chats without leaving the app they're using.
Balancing new features with system requirements
While WhatsApp continues to work on introducing new features for the future, WhatsApp also recognizes how maintaining appropriate minimum requirements is important. Supporting more advanced functionalities often requires relying on newer system capabilities and improved performance standards. This means that older devices and operating systems may struggle to keep up with these innovations. This limitation could also prevent WhatsApp from introducing certain new features if they are not compatible with older Android versions. As a result, WhatsApp is now announcing that it will drop support for certain versions of Android.
Current WhatsApp for Android requirements and supported versions
The current supported version of WhatsApp for Android requires Android OS 5.0 or newer. This means that the app can run with the necessary stability and performance on a large number of devices. However, even as the Android ecosystem is moving toward Android 17, a certain number of users still rely on outdated devices. This is especially common in countries such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and across parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, where older smartphones are widely used. Many of these devices run versions much older than Android 10, which are no longer updated by manufacturers. This creates a growing gap between modern software requirements and older hardware still in active use.
In-app alerts and upcoming cutoff date
WhatsApp is notifying affected users by displaying an alert as soon as they open the app. The message notes that starting on September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will no longer be available on specific versions of Android. Specifically, WhatsApp will drop support for all Android versions older than Android 6.0. This change means that devices running Android 5.0 and 5.1 will no longer be able to use the app once the update takes effect. Note that WhatsApp makes these decisions even when analytics data shows that only a limited number of users are still on those older versions.
Chat backups and data preservation options
WhatsApp suggests that users back up their chats before that date to avoid losing important conversations. Users can back up their chat history on Google Drive right within the app settings. Alternatively, users will be able to restore their chat history from a local backup generated automatically by the app on the device's internal storage. This file can later be transferred manually if needed. This option is useful for users who do not have enough available storage space on Google Drive, and do not wish to purchase additional storage. So this warning ensures that users have enough time to prepare for the upcoming change. Users affected by this change will need to update their operating system or switch to a newer device to keep using WhatsApp.
No impact on iOS and iPad devices
iOS is not affected by this upcoming change. WhatsApp will continue to support iPhones running iOS 15.1 and later. This also includes iPads running iPadOS 15.1 and newer. This means that Apple users will not experience any disruption related to this specific Android update. The change currently applies only to Android devices and their minimum operating system requirements. For now, iOS users can continue using WhatsApp as usual without updating their devices due to this update.
Preparing for the end of support for Android 5.0 and 5.1
Starting September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will discontinue support for versions prior to Android 6. Note that this change applies to both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business, as they share the same underlying code and system requirements. If you are currently using Android 5.0 or Android 5.1, it is recommended that you update your device to continue using WhatsApp or move to a compatible device that supports newer versions.
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