WhatsApp, on millions of phones, to stop working; check list and how to update

WhatsApp will stop working on phones with old operating systems. Millions of people who have these phones will be affected. Check full list of 43 phones provided inside.

Happy times are set to take a U-turn for many as WhatsApp will stop working on as many as 43 phone models, which have been sold by the millions by smartphone manufacturers over the years. WhatsApp will stop working even though there is nothing wrong with these phones. (AFP)

Yes, you read that right. Whether it is iPhones or Android phones, millions of phones will lose WhatsApp support. WhatsApp is going to stop working on millions of phones and their users better check the phone list of 43 manufacturers that are facing the prospect of being booted off the world's most downloaded messaging app that boasts over 2 billion users. The problem is a serious one and the only way most of these people can retain control of their WhatsApp account is to go and buy a new phone, or try and see if an update works. That may mean a lot of money that many will not be able to afford. However, that is a problem that will have to be fixed at the individual level by every WhatsApp user who faces the prospect of being denied access. They may have a perfectly good phone, but it will not be able to run WhatsApp. And that's that.

The reason behind this massive move by WhatsApp is that these are old devices and keeping them supported would require enormous resources to be devoted. Also, the fact is that WhatsApp has undergone so many changes and new features have been added that these phones will not be able to run them properly, if at all. Lastly, there is the problem of security. Providing water-tight security to these phones will be extremely tough. The deadline for these phone users is November one, when the latest WhatsApp update is rolled out.

WhatsApp will not run on phones with these operating systems:

1. Android phones that are running Android 4.0.4 or earlier versions.

2. Apple iPhones with iOS 9 or earlier versions.

Considering that both Android smartphone making companies and iPhone maker Apple have sold tens of millions of phones running on these software, the affected people will be humongous in numbers. According to Metro News these are the phones on which WhatsApp will stop working.

Check ful list of phones on which WhatsApp will stop working from November 1.

Apple

iPhone SE

iPhone 6S

iPhone 6S Plus

Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite

Galaxy Trend II

Galaxy SII

Galaxy S3 mini

Galaxy Xcover 2

Galaxy Core

Galaxy Ace 2.

LG

The LG Lucid 2

Optimus F7

Optimus F5

Optimus L3 II Dual

Optimus F5

Optimus L5

Optimus L5 II

Optimus L5 Dual

Optimus L3 II

Optimus L7

Optimus L7 II Dual

Optimus L7 II

Optimus F6

Enact

Optimus L4 II Dual

Optimus F3

Optimus L4 II

Optimus L2 II

Optimus Nitro HD and 4X HD

Optimus F3Q

ZTE

ZTE Grand S Flex

ZTE V956

Grand X Quad V987

Grand Memo

Huawei

Huawei Ascend G740

Ascend Mate

Ascend D Quad XL

Ascend D1 Quad XL

Ascend P1 S

Ascend D2.

Sony

The Sony Xperia Miro

Sony Xperia Neo L

Xperia Arc S

Miscellaneous

Alcatel One Touch Evo 7

Archos 53 Platinum

HTC Desire 500

Caterpillar Cat B15

Wiko Cink Five

Wiko Darknight

Lenovo A820

UMi X2

Faea F1

THL W8

There may be some more phones models too that are going to lose WhatsApp support.

Light at the end of the tunnel?

For some of these phone users, there may be a solution available. They should try and update their phones on to higher versions. If the update is a success, they should be able to keep using WhatsApp on their phones.

Apple iPhone SE, iPhone 6S will probably receive iOS 15 support, so users should download and update to the latest version that is now available. However, for some phones like the old iPhone 4s, there is no hope at all.