WhatsApp Will End Support for These Android Devices in India from September 2026

WhatsApp will stop working on many older Android phones later this year, as the service ends support for devices running Android versions below 6.0 in the second week of September. Users on Android 5.0 and 5.1 must upgrade software or switch phones to keep using the app.

The move affects regions where budget smartphones are common and updates are rare, including India, Brazil and parts of Southeast Asia. WhatsApp has already begun showing in-app alerts on affected devices. Once support ends, the app will no longer open or send messages on those phones.

WhatsApp Android Support: What Users Must Do

Meta’s messaging platform is dropping these older Android versions to focus on better performance, stronger security and compatibility with new features. Android 17 is expected soon, yet many users still rely on handsets stuck on Android 5.0 or 5.1, which no longer receive manufacturer updates or security patches.

WhatsApp is advising users on these devices to back up their chat history before the deadline to avoid data loss. Backups can be stored on cloud services or saved as a local file on the phone, then moved manually to a newer device if needed.

The change currently applies only to Android. iPhone and iPad users will still receive WhatsApp updates as long as their devices run a supported version of iOS. However, older Apple hardware may also lose support in future when system requirements change again.

WhatsApp Android Features Under Testing

Alongside the support change, WhatsApp is testing several new features. A subscription option called WhatsApp Plus is in development, which may include custom themes, more pinned chats and exclusive stickers. The platform is also working on notification bubbles to aid multitasking and private chat summaries on iOS.

WhatsApp is further developing tools to help manage business conversations inside the app, reflecting growing commercial use. With support ending for Android 5.0 and 5.1 from the second week of September, users on these systems need to secure their data and plan an upgrade if they want to keep using the service.