Starting May 5, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer support several mobile phone models running older versions of the iOS operating system.
The measure, announced by Meta, responds to the need to adapt the platform to new technical requirements that cannot be executed on devices with limited capabilities.
For Apple phones, WhatsApp will no longer work on all models running iOS versions prior to 15.1. This means users will no longer be able to open the app, send or receive messages, or access voice or video calling features.
The iPhone models that will no longer be supported after that date are:
- • iPhone 5
- • iPhone 5c
- • iPhone 5s
- • iPhone 6
- • iPhone 6 Plus
These devices, released between 2012 and 2014, no longer receive official operating system updates from Apple which limits their ability to run applications that require newer technical requirements.
What Happens If You Don’t Back Up Your WhatsApp Data?
With the end of support, Meta indicated that users may be unable to access chat history and media stored in the app if they don’t back up their data in advance.
Data, including photos, videos, messages, and documents, would be inaccessible once the app stops working on these devices.
The procedure for backing up data varies depending on the operating system. For iOS, go to WhatsApp’s Settings, select Chats, and then enable the Chat Backup option.
This backup is stored in iCloud, so you’ll need an active Apple account and available cloud storage.
Why Can’t Older iOS Devices Handle WhatsApp’s New Features?
Meta explained that the decision is based on the addition of new features to the application that require greater processing power, as well as security standards and compatibility with modern technologies not available in older versions of operating systems.
iOS systems below version 15.1 do not support certain cryptographic and processing features required to maintain platform stability and security.
According to the company, maintaining compatibility with these systems would represent a limitation on the application’s technical development.
What Should Users With Outdated iPhones Do Now?
When support is discontinued, the general recommendation is to check the operating system version your device is using. If it’s a version lower than iOS 15.1 and the device doesn’t support an update, the user should consider upgrading to a newer model that meets the technical requirements established by WhatsApp.
The impact of this decision could be considerable in regions where old-fashioned telephones are still used as the primary means of communication.
In this regard, WhatsApp did not specify how many users might be affected, but reiterated that the measure’s goal is to ensure a safe and functional experience for all platform users.
The company also noted that while the app may continue to function in a limited manner for a time on some devices, its functionality will be progressively restricted until access is completely lost. This includes the inability to send messages, receive files, or perform backups.
This type of update to operating system requirements is nothing new. WhatsApp has implemented similar processes in previous years, withdrawing support for older versions of Android, BlackBerry OS, and Windows Phone, as part of its strategy to focus development on active platforms with sufficient technical capacity.
In this case, the update aligns with a general trend in the technology sector, where the latest developments prioritise devices that support modern encryption standards, cloud storage, and graphics performance.