IntelliTechs ยท Oct 05, 2026
If your phone runs an outdated version of Android or iOS, WhatsApp may refuse to open your account until you install the system update.
According to WABetaInfo, the screen tells you to open your phone's settings and install the latest system update, and it explains how to check which version you have.
The reasoning is security.
To judge your own risk, it helps to know what each platform still patches.
This is separate from the support cutoffs WhatsApp had already set. The app has required Android 6.0 or newer since September 8, 2026, when it stopped working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 phones.
If the phone no longer receives system updates, the block is likely to stay, since the screen only goes away after the update.
Read the full article