From Monday (November 1), messaging platform WhatsApp will stop working on a number of Android (Google’s mobile software) devices as well as Apple-made iOS devices.
The users who have not backed their chats also the risk of losing it when the company implements the change.
However, the key thing to note is that the end of WhatsApp support will impact only those users which are using old versions of both operating systems. According to Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, smartphones using Android 4.0.3 or lower will not be supported by the messaging platform.
In the case of Apple, the limit has been set at iOS 9 or lower. WhatsApp has also shared the list of smartphones that fall under this category and won’t be able to use the messaging platform from November 1.
Here is the list of these phones WhatsApp will stop working on:
Apple:
iPhone 6
iPhone 6s plus
iPhone SE
Android (based on phone manufacturer):
LG:
- Lucid 2,
- Optimus F7,
- Optimus F5,
- Optimus L3 II,
- Dual Optimus L5,
- Best L5 II,
- Optimus L5,
- Dual Best L3 II,
- Optimus L7,
- Optimus L7,
- Dual Best L7 II,
- Optimus F6,
- Enact Optimus F3,
- Best L4 II,
- Best L2 II,
- Optimus Nitro HD,
- Optimus 4X HD
- Optimus F3Q.
Huawei:
- Ascend G740,
- Ascend Mate,
- Ascend D Quad XL,
- Ascend D1 Quad XL,
- Ascend P1 S,
- Ascend D2.
Samsung:
- Galaxy Trend Lite,
- Galaxy Trend II,
- Galaxy SII,
- Galaxy S3 mini,
- Galaxy Xcover 2,
- Galaxy Core
- Galaxy Ace 2.
ZTE:
- Grand S Flex,
- ZTE V956,
- Grand X Quad V987
- Grand Memo.
Sony:
Xperia Miro,
Xperia Neo L,
Xperia Arc S.
There are some others phones too from lesser-known brands, like Alcatel, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, and Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820 UMi X2, Run F1, THL W8 which will have to say goodbye to WhatApp.
Through an updated FAQ page, WhatsApp has announced that it will no longer support phones running on Android 4.0.4 and older versions from Monday. Affected users are advised to switch to a supported device and save their chat history before the deadline reaches.
How to check if WhatsApp is ending support for your Android device
WhatsApp has not yet defined which all devices will no longer be supported by its app. You can, though, check whether WhatsApp is ending support for your Android device by following the steps below.
- Go to Settings > About phone.
- Scroll down to look for the Android version running on your device.
- If it’s Android 4.0.4 or lower, you should look to switch to a device with a higher version of Android.
In case if you are among the affected users, you can export your chat history either by taking a backup of your chats or through exporting separate individual or group chats.
How to back up your WhatsApp chats to avoid disconnection
For backup, you can go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up from the WhatsApp settings. You can also export an individual or group chat by opening that chat and tapping the three-dot menu from the top-right corner of your screen. You will now have to tap More > Export chat. WhatsApp will also let you choose whether you want to export your chat along with media files such as audio, images, and videos you have received in the chat or without any media files.
Alongside Android 4.1 and later versions, WhatsApp currently supports iPhone running on iOS 10 (supported by iPhone 5 and later models) and newer versions and feature phones such as the Jio Phone and Jio Phone 2 running KaiOS 2.5.0 and later.