WhatsApp will stop supporting Apple smartphones with operating systems lower than iOS 12 starting October 24th. Meta's instant messaging app will ditch security features and new updates for smartphones like the iPhone 5 and 5c, released from 2012 to 2013.
WhatsApp reported that the device must have at least iOS 12 to work, that is, it loses functionality in iOS 10 and iOS 11. This incompatibility can be changed if the user manages to update to the current system, but in the meantime, some smartphones older brands no longer receive updates and therefore will not be able to adapt.
It is not yet clear whether the change will also affect other system apps such as Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, for example. In Google's system, nothing changes and the version remains the minimum, that is, Android 4.1 released ten years ago. The service even allows you to back up your chat history for a while longer.
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Users who fit the measure and who will lose access to WhatsApp updates will be notified over the next few days. The idea is that, ending support on older systems, WhatsApp will gain space to implement new functions in the app.
WhatsApp had already informed on its website in the “Help Center” area that iOS 12 or newer would be required for iPhone users to continue using the service.
