New Year Shock! WhatsApp to stop working on some iPhones from December 31

WhatsApp will reportedly stop working on these iPhones soon. Is your iPhone in the list?

WhatsApp to stop working on these devices soon. (REUTERS)

Can't wait to wish New Year to your family and loved ones on WhatsApp in the New Year? Stop and read this immediately. WhatsApp regularly rolls out updates and new features such as disappearing messages, voice and video calls. However, as new features keep being added, older smartphones cannot handle the new software upgrades and become vulnerable to hacking. WhatsApp then drops support to these phones as they become obsolete and they can no longer use the app.

Now, WhatsApp just dropped a new year bomb and said the app will stop working on over 50 devices on December 31. According to the information provided, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C users will not be able to use WhatsApp on their devices starting January 1. The online messaging application will stop working on some versions of Android and iOS in order to let the company introduce certain functionality that may not work on old operating systems. Back in October, WhatsApp had dropped the support for iOS 10 and iOS 11 meaning users on these firmwares could not update the WhatsApp to the latest version. Now, it is bad news for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C users as they might have to find an alternative way of messaging.

Other iPhone users can simply update their iOS firmware to continue using WhatsApp. To update your iOS version, go to Settings, tap on General and then tap on Software Update. If your device supports the latest firmware, it will automatically download the update. However, if you're an iPhone 5 and 5C user, it is bad news for you. WhatsApp will stop working on your iPhone soon and December 31 is the last date you can use the app.

Fortunately, major e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon are offering great end-of-the-year deals and huge discounts on smartphones. So, take advantage of the offers and upgrade your smartphone now!