If you’re still rocking an older iPhone running iOS 7, you’re going to need to upgrade if you want to continue using WhatsApp.
The world’s biggest messaging service will soon stop working on iOS 7 devices. Other aging operating systems are going to get left out in the cold, too.
WhatsApp confirmed plans to stop supporting iOS 7 last June. At the time, it said you could continue using the app but it would not be updated. “Some features may stop functioning at any time,” it warned.
But WhatsApp will soon stop working altogether on older iPhone models.
WhatsApp won’t work after February 1, 2020
You won’t be able to use WhatsApp on iOS 7 at all after February 1, 2020. WhatsApp recommends upgrading to a newer Android or iOS device to continue using its service after this date.
Android versions 2.3.7 and older will also no longer be supported after this date. WhatsApp has already stopped working on BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10. Support for Windows Phone devices will be dropped on December 31, 2019.
Older devices “don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s features in the future,” WhatsApp explains. “This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch.”
Upgrade your iPhone
iOS 7 made its debut almost five years ago — in June 2014. There have been five major iOS updates since then, so it’s unlikely too many people are still using the outdated platform.
But some still carry older iPhones that can’t be updated to iOS 8 or later. Those who do will be forced to upgrade if they want to continue using WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family.
