Still have an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c? If so, this news may impact you greatly. WhatsApp has announced that it is dropping support for iOS 10 and iOS 11, and has quietly made iOS 12 the default minimum requirement to run the application. By doing so, WhatsApp has effectively discontinued support for iPhone models that can’t support iOS 12 – iPhone 5, iPhone 5c or lower.
The App Store listing of WhatsApp has been updated to reflect the change in app requirements. By informing users, WhatsApp has made clear that older iOS versions will not be able to receive new updates or security fixes on the app. This update also means users running iOS 10 or iOS 11 will no longer be able to install WhatsApp from the App Store. Although, any users who already have the app installed, will receive support until October
This is not a first for WhatsApp, which has previously stopped support for older versions of Android and iOS. Apple however says that the number of people who will be affected is insignificant as over 60% of all its iPhone users now use iOS 15.