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WhatsApp will stop working on these devices starting November 1st


In two months, popular messaging service WhatsApp will stop working on a number of old devices.  

The Facebook-owned messaging app is continuously updated to ensure it provides the best experience for all its users. As part of this update,  43 older smartphone models will be affected. 

WhatsApp will however continue working on Androids running OS 4.1 and newer, iPhones running iOS 10 and newer, select phones running KaiOS 2.5.1 newer, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2. This is according to WhatsApp’s FAQ page

With approximately two billion users around the globe, WhatsApp is the world’s most popular international instant messaging platform. 

Below is a full list of the 43 devices that will lose access to WhatsApp come November 1st.

  • iPhone SE, 6S and 6S Plus.
  • Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy SII, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2.
  • LG Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5, Optimus L5, Optimus L5 II, Optimus L5 Dual, Optimus L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7 II Dual, Optimus L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact , Optimus L4 II Dual, Optimus F3, Optimus L4 II, Optimus L2 II, Optimus Nitro HD and 4X HD, and Optimus F3Q.
  • ZTE Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987 and Grand Memo.
  • Huawei Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S, and Ascend D2.
  • Sony Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L, Xperia Arc S.
  • Alcatel One Touch Evo 7, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820, UMi X2, Faea F1 and THL W8.

If you own any of the above devices, this could be a good time for an upgrade. 

WhatsApp says that once you lose access to the app on your old device, you’ll lose your chat history, too. You have an option to export your chat history as an email attachment though.

This is not the first time WhatsApp is making such an announcement. In January this year,  the messaging app stopped working on a plethora of smartphones running older versions of Android and Apple’s iOS. In 2020, ​​the app also stopped working on older models running Android 2.3.7 or older and iOS 8 and older.

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Nixon Kanali

Tech journalist based in Nairobi. I track and report on tech and African startups. Founder and Editor of TechTrends Media. Nixon is also the East African tech editor for Africa Business Communities. Send tips to nkanali@techtrendske.co.ke.

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