WhatsApp users might soon need a newer iPhone

WhatsApp has warned that it’s going to drop help for iOS 10 and iOS 11 units later this 12 months, which implies iPhone 5 and 5c homeowners might want to discover another approach of utilizing the app. These with newer handsets, in the meantime, might have to replace to a more recent model of iOS.

wabetainfo.com was the primary web site to report the plan, which was corroborated by data on the WhatsApp support site. It explains: “Presently, we offer help for and advocate utilizing the next units: Android operating OS 4.1 and newer; iPhone operating iOS 12 and newer; KaiOS 2.5.0 and newer, together with JioPhone and JioPhone 2.”

Regardless of what it says on the help web page, homeowners of iOS 10 and 11 units are nonetheless presently in a position to make use of WhatsApp, however have began receiving warnings that they need to “replace to the most recent model of iOS to proceed utilizing WhatsApp.” These messages point out that the change is scheduled to occur on October 24. From that time on, anybody operating an older model of iOS can be unable to make use of WhatsApp.

The transfer–or one thing much like it involving iOS 10 solely–was rumored in the direction of the tip of final 12 months however didn’t find yourself taking place. However WhatsApp has evidently determined that it must act this 12 months. “To decide on what to cease supporting, yearly we, like different know-how corporations, take a look at which units and software program are the oldest and have the fewest variety of folks nonetheless utilizing them,” it explains within the help article. “These units additionally may not have the most recent safety updates, or would possibly lack the performance required to run WhatsApp.”

Even if you happen to’re not presently operating iOS 12 or later, the probabilities are that it is possible for you to to update your iPhone to one thing newer. The issue comes if you happen to’ve bought an iPhone 5 or 5c, since these handsets aren’t in a position to set up iOS 12. They’re fairly previous, so if WhatsApp is essential for you it could be price buying a new iPhone.