Come 2020, WhatsApp will stop working on a number of smartphones. As updated on the FAQ section of the Facebook-owned messaging app, there are several Android and iOS phones that may not be able to run the app as the company will withdraw support for older versions of OS from 1 February, 2020.
According to the information on WhatsApp FAQ section, Android phones running on Android 2.3.7 operating system and lower as well as iPhones running on iOS 8 and lower will not be compatible with the chat app from next year.
WhatsApp also stressed on the fact that these older versions of Android and iOS operating systems "can no longer create new accounts, nor re-verify existing accounts after February 1, 2020."
However, the Facebook-owned instant messaging platform will keep the app running for select phones with KaiOS 2.5.1+ OS, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2.
Moreover, in what may come as a bad news for Windows OS users, WhatsApp earlier announced that is also withdrawing support for all Windows phones from December 31, 2019 — the same month that Microsoft ends support of its Windows 10 Mobile OS. The company also added that the app "might not be available in the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019."
But, if you have a Windows smartphone, and don’t want to lose all your chats and information after 31 December, 2019 there is an option to save your chats.
Open the chat you wish to export, and tap on Group Info.
Tap ‘Export Chat’. You’ll then be given the option to download the chat with or without media. Choose your option and export all your chats.
WhatsApp also highlighted that the decision to end WhatsApp support for these Android phones and iPhones will not affect a lot of users.
Here is the list of all the operating systems that will not support WhatsApp from next year:
-Android versions 2.3.7 and older
-iOS 8 and older
-All Windows OS phones from 31 December, 2019
WhatsApp also listed the operating systems that the app supports and recommends users to use the following updated devices:
-Android running OS 4.0.3+
-iPhone running iOS 9+
-Select phones running KaiOS 2.5.1+, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2
