Skip to main content

WhatsApp to end support for older iPhones in coming months

If you’re still rocking a decade-old iPhone 5 or 5C and use WhatsApp, you should be aware that the Facebook-owned company will soon be ending support for those devices.

A WhatsApp notification spotted by WhatsApp specialist site WABetaInfo reveals that the company will end support for iOS 10 and iOS 11 in the fall. The iPhone 5 and 5C are unable to deploy iOS 12 and later, which means WhatsApp on those two handsets will stop receiving the latest updates for security, features, and general functionality.

According to the notification, WhatsApp will officially end support for iOS 11 and earlier on October 24, so there’s plenty of time to make plans if the messaging app is a major part of your connected life.

A WhatsApp support page says the messaging app currently works best with iOS 12 and later, which means the iPhone 5S and later Apple handsets.

Apple stopped making the iPhone 5 in 2013, and while it was popular in its day, it’s safe to say that few people are still using the device. The situation is a little different with the iPhone 5C, however, as Apple discontinued that handset more recently, in 2016 in India and in 2015 elsewhere.

It’s not unusual for app makers to end support for older mobile operating systems as an increasing number of newly developed features will be unable to work with the older technology. WhatsApp took a similar step in March 2021 when it stopped supporting iOS 9, a move that impacted folks using its messaging app on an iPhone 4S.

If WhatApp’s decision is enough to prompt you to finally ditch your aging iPhone 5 or 5C but you don’t have the cash to purchase one of Apple’s latest handsets, then how about saving some money and going for a refurbished iPhone?

WhatsApp is a hugely popular messaging app with around two billion monthly active users, according to data from analytics site Statista. Launched in 2009, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook — now Meta — for $19 billion in 2014.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Here’s how iOS 18 is going to overhaul your iPhone’s email app
An iPhone showing the home screen in someone's hand.

We're just days away from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2024), which means we're about to get our first look at iOS 18. The new iPhone operating system is expected to get RCS texting in the iMessage app, more customization options for the home screen, and maybe a significant design change overall. Now comes word that changes will be made to the native Mail app.

According to AppleInsider, the Mail app is about to undergo a significant transformation. It's getting a powerful new search tool, Smart Replies, automatic sorting for different email types, and more. But the real excitement lies in the app's expected integration of AI functionality, a feature becoming a hallmark of iOS 18.

Read more
Be careful with your iPhone! Repairing it just got more expensive
Someone holding an iPhone 15 Pro Max outside on a patio, showing the back of the Natural Titanium color.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple has significantly changed its repair and standard warranty policies — potentially resulting in higher repair costs for iPhones and Apple Watches.

The policy change pertains to “single hairline cracks.” In the past, this type of problem was covered by the standard warranty for these products. However, it is now being treated as “accidental damage,” with customers being required to pay for the repair.

Read more
iPhone 16: news, rumored price, release date, and more
A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

We're more than six months removed from the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, so you know what that means: iPhone 16 rumors are in full force. Talk is heating up about everything from design leaks and rumored specs to camera changes and more.

Read more