Overview
- WhatsApp is showing in‑app warnings to people on Android 5.0 and 5.1 ahead of a Sept. 8, 2026 cutoff.
- The app will only run on Android 6.0 or newer because new features depend on newer system tools.
- People on Android 5.x should back up chats to Google Drive in settings or create a local backup, then update the OS or move to a newer phone.
- The change applies to both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business on Android.
- Only about 0.5% of Android users still run version 5.x, but the impact will be larger in markets where older phones are common, such as India and Brazil.