WhatsApp is about to stop working on these older iPhones

If you’re an avid WhatsApp user hanging on to an older iPhone, you might want to start thinking about an upgrade 

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Meta has confirmed that WhatsApp will require iOS 15.5 or later from 30 November 2026, raising the app’s minimum software requirement from the current iOS 15.1. While that doesn’t sound like a huge jump, it could spell the end of WhatsApp support for some of Apple’s oldest still-functioning smartphones.

According to WhatsApp’s updated support documentation, the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and first-generation iPhone SE are expected to be affected. Those devices are now more than a decade old in some cases, and no longer receive major iOS updates.

Some reports have also suggested that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus could lose support. However, those models can currently run iOS 15.8.x, which is newer than the stated iOS 15.5 minimum requirement. Unless WhatsApp raises its requirements further or clarifies its plans, it’s not yet clear whether iPhone 7 owners will actually be impacted.

For many people, losing WhatsApp support is a much bigger deal than missing out on the latest iPhone features. Messaging apps are among the most-used services on any smartphone, and WhatsApp remains one of the world’s most popular ways to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues.

The good news is that anyone using an iPhone 8, iPhone X, or anything newer shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Those devices can run software versions beyond the new minimum requirement and are expected to remain compatible with WhatsApp after the November deadline.

Meta periodically raises its operating system requirements as older software becomes harder to maintain and secure. It’s a routine part of supporting a platform used by billions of people, even if it occasionally leaves older hardware behind.

If you’re still using an iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, or original iPhone SE as your daily device, you’ve got until 30 November before WhatsApp support is expected to end. Given that those phones launched between 2015 and 2016, they’ve already had a longer lifespan than most smartphones could ever dream of.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.