WhatsApp Ends Support for iOS 9, Now Requires iPhone 5 or Later to Work

[MacRumors]

As indicated in a newly published support document, WhatsApp has ended support for iOS 9 and earlier versions of Apple's mobile operating system, requiring all users to be running at least iOS 10, released in 2016.

Up until now, iOS 9 users – who will have been mainly iPhone 4s owners – were able to use the encrypted chat service. Going forward, however, iOS 10 is required, meaning users will need an iPhone 5 or later model to use WhatsApp.

The drop in support follows a similar move by the Facebook-owned instant messaging service last year, when it ended support for iOS 8 and older.

For customers finding themselves no longer being able to use the app due to the end of support, it's recommended that you back up your WhatsApp chats to iCloud, and restore your chat history to a newer, supported device. You can find instructions on how to do so here.

Article Link: WhatsApp Ends Support for iOS 9, Now Requires iPhone 5 or Later to Work

 

[qoop]

The instructions being… spend more money on a device they won't be bothered to support in a few years?

 

[Tubamajuba]

The instructions being… spend more money on a device they won't be bothered to support in a few years?

The iPhone 4S is ten years old. It is beyond reasonable to ask your users to get a newer phone.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Let's take a moment to remember our iPhone 4S friends... whoever they are.

 

[otternonsense]

The iPhone 4S is ten years old. It is beyond reasonable to ask your users to get a newer phone.

Well yea, even the ones fastest to criticise Apple (points at self) can agree with that.

 

[zjack]

Maybe then they can put more time into working on their native iPadOS app...

WhatsApp iPad app awaiting proper multi-device support - 9to5Mac

It's more than a year since we first heard that an official WhatsApp iPad app was in the works – along with a Mac one also – but it has so far ...

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Leaker suggests WhatsApp for iPad and Mac in the works - 9to5Mac

A leaker with a good track record suggests that an official WhatsApp for iPad app and a true standalone WhatsApp for Mac app are in the works ...

9to5mac.com

 

[qoop]

The iPhone 4S is ten years old. It is beyond reasonable to ask your users to get a newer phone.

Reasonable for Facebook I suppose… but another burden on the consumer.

 

[msp3]

Big if true... especially given the WhatsApp demographic is poor people

 

[seanmills1020]

I am going to start my own, really hip chat service called WassupApp.

 

[qoop]

Big if true... especially given the WhatsApp demographic is poor people

There are many more about these days, especially in Western Europe :/

 

[sh20]

Big if true... especially given the WhatsApp demographic is poor people

wtf does that even mean?

 

[newyorksole]

I’m sure there are people in some crappy financial/environmental situations who can’t upgrade their 4/4S, but like others have said, it’s just too old.

 

[iAFC]

wtf does that even mean?

Brazilians

 

[Zmmyt]

I’m on iPhone SE 2 and ended support for WhatsApp months ago.

 

[and 1989 others]

Remember folks the end of WhatsApp support on those phones does not render them useless. They can still be used to make calls, send text messages, emails and use the web.

 

[tridley68]

I have been using this app to communicate with my daughter who's attending college in England it is a great little app and saves me a ton on cell minutes.

 

[spotlight07]

Running an OS that old is not safe anyway. A decade of missed security patches. I hope Apple will create a buy a device, give a device program (similar to Bombas, Warby Parker) for customers that can afford it.

 

[ruka.snow]

I can't imagine too many of these exceedingly old phones still work. The article may make it a bigger deal than it is, if this was never reported I am sure no one would be any the wiser.

 

[jefhai]

I am going to start my own, really hip chat service called WassupApp.

You’d probably get sued if you did that

 

[I7guy]

Running an OS that old is not safe anyway. A decade of missed security patches. I hope Apple will create a buy a device, give a device program (similar to Bombas, Warby Parker) for customers that can afford it.

Don’t know how for example Bombas buy a sock give a sock (it should be noted they are not for retail socks but specifically designed socks for this purpose) scales to other industries? Buy an iPhone give an iPhone, buy a car give a car, etc.

 

[NewUsername]

I still know people here in the Netherlands who have an iPhone 4s.

But it's a non-issue. Sell your iPhone 4s for 20 euro and buy an iPhone 5 for 30 euro. Or a 2016 iPhone SE for 60 euro. I mean, how much do you pay every month for your mobile subscription?

The ones in the Netherlands with a problem now are teenagers with an iPhone 4s who now need to convince their parents that they deserve an upgrade.

Though of course I can imagine the iPhone 4s might still have some decent use in developing countries.

 

[afd]

Running an OS that old is not safe anyway. A decade of missed security patches. I hope Apple will create a buy a device, give a device program (similar to Bombas, Warby Parker) for customers that can afford it.

only a couple of years, last iOS 9 update was in July 2019

 

[P-DogNC]

Remember folks the end of WhatsApp support on those phones does not render them useless. They can still be used to make calls, send text messages, emails and use the web.

Far from useless, the ending of support by Facebook/WhatsApp is actually an upgrade for the iPhone 4S. It will improve the user experience on that old device, as the lack of a Facebook service would improve any device.

 

[Le0M]

Is whatsapp dropping iOS 9, or that specific phone?
In the first case, hats off to Apple, that "allows" iphones to be up to date for 5 years.

 

[Delta-NC]

Deleted.