WhatsApp to cut support for three iPhones

WhatsApp is set to cut service for three iPhones next year.

A website investigating app beta versions found a hidden alert that the Meta-owned messaging service is set to revamp its service by May 5, 2025, with upgrades not available for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

The smartphones lack support for Apple's iOS 15.1, which is set to be a prerequisite for the messaging software, and only have the ability for iOS 12.5.7.

Industry watchers noted that the announcement won't impact WhatsApp users who enjoy the service on Android devices. 

Some speculated that the Meta-owned app was monitoring its internal data on the service's total number of older iPhone users before deciding it was an appropriate time to cut this likely modest number of customers.

For those looking to upgrade their phones to keep up with WhatsApp, experts recommended backing up their chats and multimedia history to Apple's to iCloud, for future integration with a newer device via WhatsApp's Chat Transfer feature. 

Egypt-based tech podcaster Youssef Salem, who focuses on Apple products, was the first to break the news of WhatsApp's plans — after exploring how the latest versions of WhatsApp now run in 'TestFlight,' Apple's system for developers road-testing new apps.

WhatsApp's alert, Salem reported, 'notifies users running iOS versions earlier than 15.1 that they will no longer be able to use the app in the future, even if they attempt to access it through a previous beta version on TestFlight.'

Fortunately, all newer iPhone models will still be compatible with the service, so long as they are running the latest versions of iOS.

Updating the operating system on the Apple device is as easy as going to iPhone Settings, clicking on 'General' and then selecting 'Software Update.'

WhatsApp introduced a new feature last month that auto-transcribes voice memo messages and the upcoming update will likely continue to expand these kinds of AI and large language model-based tools. 

Salem noted his report for tech site WABetaInfo that the roughly five month window was 'ample time' for older iPhone owners 'to update their devices if possible or consider alternatives if their hardware does not support newer iOS versions.' 

WhatsApp has worked for years to strike a balance between offering essential new features, like a reverse image search function needed to help combat 'fake news' and disinformation, while keeping the service open to the most users possible.

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'This approach has allowed WhatsApp to reach a broad audience,' Salem noted, but in may have come at the expense of keeping up with 'the latest trends in technology' recently.

Apple experts have noted that personal privacy and security-minded iPhone users are likely to want to keep their iOS fully updated anyway, to make sure all vulnerabilities are patched and protected from cybercriminals.

WhatsApp's own updates coming in May 2025 are expected to also include key new security features, like Chat Lock, which was unique to the encrypted messaging app. 

'Locking a chat takes that thread out of your inbox and puts it behind its own folder that can only be accessed with your device's password or biometric, like a fingerprint,' Meta said in its Chat Lock announcement.

'It also automatically hides the contents of that chat in notifications, too. We believe this feature will be great for people who share their phones from time to time with a family member, or in moments where someone else is holding your phone.'