WhatsApp has published a list of Android devices that can no longer run the messaging app, according to Vanguard News. The report, published on Monday, September 21, 2026, names the Android phones affected by the change. Separate reports say the company is also raising its iOS requirements, a move that would affect five older iPhone models.
The Android change centres on devices running Android 5, according to NeoTeo, which described the shift as the end of support for that version of the operating system. PM News Nigeria reported that users of older Android phones face being cut off from the app as a result. Business News Nigeria and Legit News both reported that the iOS update would leave five older iPhones unable to receive updates.
The reports point to the same pattern: WhatsApp periodically sets minimum operating system requirements, and phones that fall below them stop receiving support. The affected users are advised to check their device's software version against the requirements WhatsApp has set out.
What to watch next: WhatsApp's published list and its iOS requirements will show which specific models are affected, and whether any further devices are added.