WhatsApp supported phone list (2022)
With the latest WhatsApp update, as of 2021, some smartphones will no longer be able to support the app, and it will cease to work. Either the app will expire or keep running but will have recurring errors. In this article, we will list the smartphone models that won't be compatible with the latest WhatsApp update.
What are the incompatible Android models?
At this point in time, indeed, the new WhatsApp update won't be available for the following models, and in the bizarre case it is, there will be recurrent issues:
- LG Optimus Black
- Samsung Galaxy S2
- Motorola Droid Razr
- HTC Desire
Nevertheless, other older Android models might develop issues and end up on the list. To be sure that the latest WhatsApp update will work well on your phone, ensure you have Android version 4.0.4 or later installed. If your smartphone cannot support the latest version of Android 10.0, this may also present issues with the latest WhatsApp update.
Note: Some Samsung mobiles use the Tizen OS. Instead of the Google Play Store, they use the Tizen Store. As of October 2020, you can longer download WhatsApp from the Tizen Store because it is no longer supported in the Tizen OS. You can also no longer update WhatsApp in the Tizen Store. It is not possible to download WhatsApp for Tizen phones.
What are the incompatible iPhone models?
On the iPhone side, some models will not be able to update to the latest WhatsApp version. Apple devices need at least iOS 10, but this has been the case since March 2021, when WhatsApp stopped supporting iOS 9. This meant that the iPhone 4S was no longer supported.
A list of smartphone models no longer compatible with the WhatsApp update to November 1, 2021, circulates on the Internet. The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, as well as the iPhone SE (1st generation), also appear in this list. According to Apple, however, the devices can be updated to iOS 11 and thus also support the WhatsApp update. So, no iPhones are affected by the WhatsApp update on November 1, 2021, but only Android devices.
To ensure the functionality of the latest WhatsApp update, it will be imperative that your iPhone runs iOS9 or later. The update will also be compatible with smartphones running the KaiOS 2.5.1 and later operating systems; these include the JioPhone and JioPhone 2.
What happens if WhatsApp stops working on my phone?
If your smartphone model is incompatible with the update, WhatsApp will send you an alert informing you the date when the app will stop working on your smartphone. From that moment on, two things may occur. Either you will not be able to open WhatsApp on your phone as the latest update cannot be installed and the current version will have expired, or you will manage to install the latest version, but it will be plagued with constant errors.
Before WhatsApp stops fully working on your smartphone, we recommend the following:
- Make a backup copy if you do not want to lose your chat history! This will allow you to restore all of your conversations on your new smartphone, with date, time, and files.
- If you do not want to make a complete backup copy, either because you don't have enough space on your smartphone or you're not interested in keeping all of the conversations, you can export specific conversations you want to keep, with or without the associated multimedia files. Make sure to keep up with the latest updates on IOS and Android to avoid losing valuable information and get the most out of your smartphone.