PTENES
Now
How to set up Alexa on an Echo Dot, step by stepWhatsApp now blocks logins on phones with outdated softwareFitbit Edge leak: Google band with a screen and 7-day batteryJack Dorsey's offline messaging app Bitchat vanishes from app stores in IndiaHow to change photo texture on the iPhone 18 Pro, in Camera or PhotosTP-Link Tapo Doorbell Pro D260: a 4K video doorbell with no subscriptionGoogle is replacing Gemini Gems with Skills on November 17Free Gemini drops to Flash-Lite only on October 9, and AI Plus loses Pro
Internet & Social Media

WhatsApp now blocks logins on phones with outdated software

WhatsApp is asking some users to update Android or iOS before they can log in. Here is who is affected, what to do and which phones already lost support.

By Redação IntelliTechs2 min read
Metal padlock in front of a smartphone with a blank screen

WhatsApp has started showing a warning to people who try to log in from a phone running an outdated version of Android or iOS: update the system, or you don’t get in. The report comes from WABetaInfo, a site that tracks the app closely.

What is happening

According to WABetaInfo, the alert tells you to open your phone’s settings and install the latest system update. There is no way to skip it. Until the phone is updated, login stays blocked.

A few details that matter:

  • The block applies to both Android and iOS.
  • It is reaching only some users so far, gradually.
  • It is not a beta test. WhatsApp applies it from its servers, so it doesn’t matter which version of the app you have installed.
  • WhatsApp hasn’t said which system versions trigger the alert.

Why WhatsApp is doing this

The reasoning is security. Old systems collect known flaws that malware can exploit. In that situation, someone could reach data on the device before end-to-end encryption even kicks in, which weakens the protection of your chats.

Phones that already lost support

This is separate from the support cutoffs WhatsApp had already set. According to Notebookcheck, the app stops working on Android 5.0 and 5.1 phones from September 8, 2026. Those phones can’t upgrade to Android 6, so the only fix is a new handset. The site puts them at about 0.58% of global phone and tablet usage.

On iPhone, the minimum moves from iOS 15.1 to iOS 15.5 on November 30, 2026. That affects the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, first-generation SE, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The good news is that Apple released iOS 15.8.8 for them in May 2026, so none of these models is shut out by hardware. You just need to update.

How to get ready

  1. Back up your chats. On Android, Notebookcheck points to Google Drive or a local backup. If you are switching phones, this keeps your history.
  2. Update the system. On iPhone, go to Settings, General, Software Update. On Android the path varies by brand, but it is usually under Settings, System or About phone.
  3. Review linked devices. Notebookcheck suggests removing old devices from your linked devices list.
  4. Harden your account. While you are at it, turn on WhatsApp two-step verification, which protects the account even if someone gets your SMS code.

Context

WhatsApp tests changes often, like the idea of moving Channels into the Chats tab. The updated-system requirement follows a different logic. It is not a new feature but a protection measure that can catch people who stopped updating their phones.

If you use an older phone and haven’t seen the alert, there is no reason to panic: WhatsApp is only applying the block to some users. But since the company doesn’t say which versions are affected, anyone running a very old system is better off updating soon.

Sources

Read next