WhatsApp ends support for iPhone 5, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus in 2026: what to do now

Which iPhones lost WhatsApp support?

Five models, all of which cannot install iOS 15 at all:

The common thread is the operating system, not the age of the phone as such. WhatsApp needs iOS 15.1, and Apple never released iOS 13, 14 or 15 for these models, so there is no update that fixes it. Meta gave months of notice before the change took effect on 1 January 2026.

What happens on an affected iPhone

WhatsApp stops working. You cannot send or receive messages, make calls or use the app to read your chat history. The phone itself still works for calls, texts and other apps that support its iOS version. Only WhatsApp is affected by this change.

Which iPhones still run WhatsApp?

Every iPhone that can install iOS 15 or later, once it has been updated:

• iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE (1st generation)
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, which run up to iOS 16
• iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and every later model

Of these, only the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) onward run the current iOS 27 and get Apple's newest updates. The older models clear WhatsApp's bar today but have stopped moving forward, which matters for the next section.

How to check your iPhone's iOS version

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Settings › General › About.
3. Read the iOS Version line. Anything from 15.1 upward is fine for WhatsApp.
4. If it is older, open Settings › General › Software Update and install the newest version offered.

If Software Update says your phone is up to date and the version is still 12 or older, you have one of the affected models. Our guide on how to check which iOS your iPhone supports shows how to confirm the exact model.

What to do if your iPhone is affected

Move to a newer iPhone

This is the only full fix. Any iPhone that runs iOS 15.1 or later works, but if you are buying a replacement, aim for one that runs the current iOS. Every iPhone from the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) onward runs iOS 27, which means current security updates and plenty of room before WhatsApp's next minimum catches up. The iOS 27 supported devices list has the full set of 33 models.

An iPhone 7 or iPhone 8 would run WhatsApp today and cost less, but both have already stopped getting new iOS versions, so they are the most likely to be left behind by the next increase.

Bring your chats with you

WhatsApp backs up chats to iCloud, and you restore them on the new phone during setup:

1. On the old phone, if WhatsApp still opens, go to WhatsApp › Settings › Chats › Chat Backup and tap Back Up Now.
2. On the new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple Account so it can see the backup.
3. Install WhatsApp from the App Store and verify the same phone number.
4. Choose to restore your chat history when WhatsApp offers it.

If the app no longer opens on the old phone, you cannot make a new backup from it. An iCloud chat backup made earlier can still be restored as above.

Why WhatsApp Web is not a workaround

WhatsApp Web and the desktop app are linked devices. You set them up from the WhatsApp app on a phone, and they depend on that account staying active. When your only phone can no longer run WhatsApp, there is no app to link from, so the web version does not replace it.

Other messaging apps

Some messaging apps may still support older iOS versions, but they raise their minimums over time too, and switching only helps if the people you talk to switch with you. It is a stopgap at best.

Why apps drop support for old iOS versions

Each iOS release adds the frameworks and security features that apps build on. Supporting phones stuck on iOS 10 or 12 means maintaining old code paths for a small share of users, and older systems no longer receive Apple's security fixes. At some point developers set a new floor, as WhatsApp has done several times. Our explainer on what happens when Apple stops supporting an iPhone covers what changes for the rest of the phone.

What to do next

If your iPhone is on the affected list, back up your chats now if the app still opens, then pick a replacement that runs iOS 27 so you are covered for years. If you have an iPhone 6s or newer, update it and WhatsApp keeps working. For readers keeping an older phone alive on iOS 15 or iOS 16, our historical guides to iOS 15 and iOS 16 explain those releases.

Frequently asked questions