The change affects both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business. WhatsApp had announced the cutoff earlier this year and warned affected users through in-app notifications.
Android 5.0, also known as Lollipop, and Android 5.1 were released more than a decade ago. WhatsApp said it regularly reviews the oldest operating systems it supports, particularly those with fewer users or lacking newer security updates and features needed to run the app.
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Users who still have Android 5.0 or 5.1 should first check whether their phone can be upgraded to Android 6.0 or later. If no compatible update is available, they will need a newer device to continue using WhatsApp.
Before switching phones, users should back up their chats. WhatsApp supports chat backups through Google Drive as well as local backups, which can then be restored on a compatible Android device.
The cutoff does not affect Android phones already running Android 6.0 or newer. WhatsApp’s current support page also says iPhones remain supported on iOS 15.1 or later for now, with a separate minimum-version change planned for November 30, 2026.
