WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by over 2 billion people. Recently, there have been rumors circulating that WhatsApp will stop supporting older phones and operating systems. This has left many wondering if they will still be able to use WhatsApp on their phones going forward.
What phones and operating systems will WhatsApp stop supporting?
According to the official WhatsApp FAQ page, as of February 1, 2020, WhatsApp will stop supporting phones running the Windows Phone operating system. WhatsApp will also stop supporting phones running Android versions 2.3.7 and older as well as iPhones running iOS 8 and older. Here is a table summarizing the operating system requirements:
| Operating System | Minimum Version Required |
|---|---|
| Android | Android 4.0.3 |
| iOS | iOS 9 |
| Windows Phone | No longer supported |
So in summary, if you are using a Windows Phone, or a very old Android or iPhone model running outdated operating systems, WhatsApp will no longer be supported on your device after February 1, 2020.
Why is WhatsApp ending support for older phones and operating systems?
There are a few key reasons why WhatsApp is stopping support for older devices and operating systems:
- Technical limitations – Very old operating systems may not have the capability to run the latest WhatsApp app and handle features like video calling, stickers, bigger file sharing, etc. Dropping support allows WhatsApp to focus development on newer, faster platforms.
- Security – Older operating systems often have security vulnerabilities that can’t be fixed. By dropping support, WhatsApp no longer has to worry about security issues on outdated platforms.
- User experience – Supporting many older operating systems leads to a fragmented user experience. Dropping outdated platforms allows WhatsApp to streamline the app experience.
Overall, by phasing out extremely outdated operating systems, WhatsApp can direct its resources to improving the app for the vast majority of users on supported devices.
What if my phone can’t update to a supported operating system?
If your phone is too old to update to a supported operating system like Android 4.0.3 or iOS 9, unfortunately that means you will no longer be able to use WhatsApp on that particular device after February 1, 2020.
You have a few options:
- Upgrade to a newer phone that runs a supported operating system
- Use WhatsApp Web to access WhatsApp on your computer’s browser
- Consider switching to alternative messaging apps that support your older device
Upgrading your phone is the best way to keep using all of WhatsApp’s features. But if that’s not an option, WhatsApp Web or alternative messaging apps could help fill the gap.
What alternative messaging apps work on older phones?
Here are some popular alternative messaging apps you can use if your phone is too old to run the latest WhatsApp:
| App | Operating Systems Supported |
|---|---|
| Signal | Android 2.3+, iOS 7+ |
| Telegram | Android 4.0+, iOS 7+ |
| Line | Android 4.0+, iOS 7+ |
| Viber | Android 2.3+, iOS 6+ |
These apps support older operating systems that WhatsApp is phasing out. Features and user experiences vary across these messaging apps. But they offer alternative options to stay connected if you can’t update your device OS.
Can I transfer my WhatsApp chat history to a new phone?
Fortunately, WhatsApp makes it easy to transfer your full chat history when you move to a new phone:
- First, back up your WhatsApp chats to iCloud (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android).
- Then install WhatsApp on your new phone and verify your number.
- On Android tap “Restore” when prompted and your chats will transfer automatically from Google Drive. On iPhone your chats will automatically restore from iCloud.
As long as you back up your chats before switching phones, you can pick right back up where you left off with all of your messages intact.
Will I still be able to use WhatsApp Web if my phone isn’t supported?
Yes, even if your phone is too old to run the latest WhatsApp app, you can still use WhatsApp through the web browser by visiting web.whatsapp.com.
WhatsApp Web mirrors the chats from your mobile device. So if your phone isn’t supported after February 1, 2020, your WhatsApp Web will also stop working.
But even if your mobile device loses WhatsApp support, you have a workaround to keep using WhatsApp Web:
- Borrow a supported mobile device and install your WhatsApp on it
- Visit WhatsApp Web from your computer browser and scan the QR code using the borrowed device
- This will link the borrowed device to your WhatsApp Web so you can access your chats
It’s a bit more inconvenient than the normal WhatsApp Web setup. But this workaround does allow you to continue browser-based WhatsApp access even if your primary phone loses app support.
Will I lose my WhatsApp chat history if support ends for my phone?
Your existing WhatsApp chats and history will not suddenly disappear when support ends for your operating system on February 1, 2020.
However, once support ends you will no longer be able to access previously saved WhatsApp chats and media on that device.
To preserve your chat history, make sure to back up your WhatsApp messages and media before support ends:
- On Android, you can back up to Google Drive in WhatsApp’s Chats settings.
- On iPhone, you can enable chat backups in iCloud Drive settings.
As long as you’ve backed up your WhatsApp data, you can restore your chat history when you upgrade to a supported device and reinstall WhatsApp.
Backing up chats is the only way to preserve your message history when upgrading devices.
Will I get a refund if I recently paid for WhatsApp?
WhatsApp was not always free – users previously had to pay a $0.99 annual subscription fee after the first year. In 2016, WhatsApp dropped its subscription fee to make the app free for everyone.
If you recently paid the $0.99 annual fee you may be wondering if you can get a refund now that your device is losing support. Unfortunately, WhatsApp’s support policy is clear that they do not offer prorated refunds in this situation.
When you voluntarily paid the subscription fee, those payments were for the previous time period of service rendered. Even if your device now loses WhatsApp access shortly after payment, that does not entitle you to a refund for the recent subscription.
You can, however, request a refund within 7 days of making a payment if you accidentally renewed a subscription that you did not want to continue. But voluntary subscription payments made to WhatsApp shortly before your device loses support are generally not refundable.
Conclusion
WhatsApp regularly stops supporting older, outdated operating systems in order to focus on the latest platforms. As of February 1, 2020, phones running Windows Phone OS, Android 2.3.7 and older, and iOS 8 and older will lose WhatsApp access.
Users of unsupported devices unfortunately have limited options – upgrading your phone is the only way to keep full WhatsApp functionality. For those who can’t upgrade, alternative messaging apps or WhatsApp Web can help fill the void.
Backing up your chat history before support ends is crucial to preserve your messages. And while it’s frustrating to lose app access shortly after paying a subscription fee, voluntary WhatsApp payments are generally non-refundable in this situation.
Losing WhatsApp support on older phones is disruptive for affected users. But dropping extremely outdated operating systems allows WhatsApp to innovate and improve the overall app experience for the vast majority of users worldwide.