Time to say goodbye to Android Lollipop.
Meta-owned messaging giant WhatsApp has ended support for Android 5.0 and Android 5.1 Lollipop, leaving smartphones stuck on the decade-old software outside WhatsApp’s supported-device requirements and at risk of losing access.
The cutoff took effect Sept. 8, raising the platform’s baseline requirement to Android 6.0 Marshmallow for both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business. The shift was flagged in April, when WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp had begun showing affected users in-app notices about the coming cutoff.
WhatsApp says it periodically drops older operating systems because they may lack current security updates or functionality required to run the app. On its FAQ page, they explained its selection criteria:
“Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp.”
Dropping Lollipop allows WhatsApp to focus development and security work on operating systems that can support its newer features.
The upgrade cost for affected users
For people who rely on older or secondhand phones, the cutoff may turn a software compatibility change into an unexpected hardware expense.
WhatsApp is widely used for personal communication and small-business messaging, so losing access can be more disruptive than retiring an ordinary mobile app. Users whose phones cannot advance beyond Android 5 will need a compatible replacement device to continue using the service.
WhatsApp has not disclosed how many users are affected, however, making it difficult to measure the cutoff’s overall impact.
What affected users should do
Handset owners running Android 5.0 or 5.1 can verify whether their device supports a newer build:
- Open the device Settings menu.
- Select System, Software Update, or About phone.
- Check for and install any available firmware that brings the handset to Android 6.0 or higher.
If a manufacturer update is unavailable, users will need to move to a compatible device. Before switching, users who can still open WhatsApp should create a current backup. Restoring a Google Drive backup on a new Android phone requires the same phone number and Google account used to create it.
What lies ahead
The Sept. 8 cutoff applies only to Android devices, but iPhone users face a separate compatibility change. Beginning Nov. 30, WhatsApp will require iOS 15.5 or newer, up from iOS 15.1. Users with older phones should check their operating-system version and create a current chat backup before the applicable cutoff.
Read more: WhatsApp’s latest account protections can block unknown attachments, disable link previews and silence calls from unfamiliar numbers.