WhatsApp Will Stop Working on Three Popular Phones within days – Is Yours on the List?

April 24, 2025 – WhatsApp will soon stop working on some older iPhones. Starting May 5, users with certain devices won’t be able to send or receive messages using the app.

If you are still using an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus, you will need to upgrade. These phones will no longer support WhatsApp after that date.

Why is WhatsApp Ending Support?

WhatsApp is owned by Meta. The company says it checks every year to see which phones and software versions are still in use.

A WhatsApp spokesperson explained:
“Some phones are very old. They don’t get security updates or can’t handle newer app features. That’s why we stop supporting them.”

To keep using WhatsApp, your iPhone must be running iOS 15.1 or newer.

Which iPhones Are Affected?

The phones that will no longer support WhatsApp from May 5, 2025 are:

• iPhone 5s (released in 2013)

• iPhone 6 (released in 2014)

• iPhone 6 Plus (released in 2014)

All of these phones were discontinued by Apple in 2016. They are now on Apple’s obsolete products list, which means:

• Apple will no longer fix these phones.

• No parts are available from Apple.

• No more security or software updates.

How to Check Your iOS Version

To see which version of iOS your phone is using:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap General.

3. Tap About.

4. Look under Version to see your current iOS version.

If your phone runs iOS 15.1 or newer, you are safe.

How to Update Your iPhone

If your iPhone can be updated, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Tap General.

3. Tap Software Update.

4. If a new version is available, tap Install Now.

You can also turn on Automatic Updates in the same menu to always stay updated.

Other Apps Also Affected

These older iPhones already don’t support some major apps like Spotify and Instagram. WhatsApp is now joining that list.

What About New WhatsApp Features?

A recent update to WhatsApp has also caused a stir. The app now shows a small blue circle in the bottom-right corner of every chat. This is a shortcut to Meta AI, an AI chatbot that can answer questions and help with tasks.

But many users aren’t happy. Some have called the new button annoying and say it gets in the way.

One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“How do I get rid of Meta AI in WhatsApp? I’ll never use it!”

Another joked:
“Massive ‘Ask AI’ button—WhatsApp, leave me alone, man.”

Meta says the AI feature is optional, but it’s now being added to more phones around the world.

Summary

If you use WhatsApp on an older iPhone, now is the time to check your software. To keep chatting, update to iOS 15.1 or higher, or consider getting a newer phone.

WhatsApp says it will remind users a few times before ending support. So, if you see a message in the app, don’t ignore it!