WhatsApp update coming, will it block you from tomorrow, Nov. 1?

WhatsApp update deadline is November 1. Before it comes around you should check whether you will hit a WhatsApp block and lose access.

WhatsApp will stop working on all phones that are not running Android OS 4.1 version or newer and iPhones running iOS 10 and newer versions. (REUTERS)

The latest WhatsApp update is all ready to be rolled out tomorrow, November 1, 2021 and it has some very bad news for a huge many users -  numbering in the millions. WhatsApp update will usher in a number of changes and among them is one that will affect users who have old phones with dated operating software on them. WhatsApp support for these phone owners will be stopped and they will not be able to use their handsets. This will leave them with no choice but to either buy a new smartphone. That will mean spending a lot of money even though their current phone is in fine working order. The other thing that these users can do is try and update their phones to a higher OS version that meets WhatsApp requirements. While some phones may be able to do this, a majority will still fail to come up to the high levels that will be required and therefore, they will run into a WhatsApp block. This eventuality will befall not just Android phone users, but also Apple iPhone users too.

If you want to know whether you are safe, there are 2 ways to go about it. The first one can be easily answered by this WhatsApp statement on which smartphones will be supported by it. WhatsApp said, "We provide support for and recommend using the following devices: Android running OS 4.1 and newer. iPhone running iOS 10 and newer KaiOS 2.5.0 and newer, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2." All those phones that are not on these or higher software versions will not get WhatsApp support.

The second way is to check the list of phones provided below that will hit a WhatsApp block.

List of phones on which WhatsApp will stop working

Samsung: Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy SII, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2.

ZTE: Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987 and Grand Memo.

Sony: Xperia Miro, Xperia Neo L, and Xperia Arc S.

Others: Alcatel, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, and Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820 UMi X2, Run F1, THL W8.

LG: Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II, Dual Optimus L5, Best L5 II, Optimus L5, Dual Best L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7, Dual Best L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact Optimus F3, Best L4 II, Best L2 II, Optimus Nitro HD, Optimus 4X HD and Optimus F3Q.

Huawei: Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S, and Ascend D2.

Apple: iPhone 6, iPhone 6s plus, iPhone SE