WhatsApp, Meta’s popular messaging app, will soon cease support for 35 older smartphones. This change aims to enhance security and protect users from potential vulnerabilities.

Affected Devices

The affected devices include models from various brands:

• Apple: iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE
• Samsung: Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy Core, Galaxy Express 2, Galaxy Grand, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy S4 Active, Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy S4 Zoom
• Motorola: Moto G, Moto X
• Sony: Xperia Z1, Xperia E3
• LG: Optimus 4X HD, Optimus G, Optimus G Pro, Optimus L7
• Lenovo: 46600, A858T, P70, S890
• Huawei: Ascend P6 S, Ascend G525, C199, GX1s, Y625

To continue using WhatsApp, users need devices running on Android 5.0 or later and iPhones with iOS 12 or later.

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Backing Up Chat History

To avoid data loss, users should back up their chat history before upgrading. Here’s how to back up your WhatsApp chat history on Google Drive:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to Chats > Chat Backup.
3. Ensure you’re backing up to the correct Google account or change it if necessary.
4. Choose backup frequency: Daily, Weekly, Monthly.
5. Decide whether to include videos and images.
6. Tap “Back up now” to initiate an immediate backup.

New Features on the Horizon

WhatsApp is also introducing new features, including the ability to chat with the Meta AI chatbot via voice messages.