WhatsApp to End Support for iOS 10 and iOS 11, Require iPhone 5S or Later to Work

WhatsApp is set to end support for iOS 10 and iOS 11 versions of Apple's mobile operating system, requiring all users to be running at least iOS 12 after October 24, 2022.

Whatsapp Feature
That means iOS 10 and iOS 11 users – who will mainly be iPhone 5 and ‌iPhone‌ 5C owners – will no longer be able to use the encrypted chat service after the specified date.

WhatsApp already states on its Help Center that it currently provides official support iOS 12 or newer, so presumably ‌iPhone‌ models like the ‌iPhone‌ 5s, ‌iPhone‌ 6, and ‌iPhone‌ 6s will remain fully supported for the foreseeable future.

Users who intend to upgrade their ‌iPhone‌ and use the app after the above date can back up their WhatsApp chats to iCloud, and restore their chat history to a newer, supported device. You can find instructions on how to do so here.

(Via WaBetaInfo.)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

Unggoy Murderer Avatar
47 months ago

I wonder what happen the these who said they will continue to use iOS 6 and not move to non Skeuomorphic designs of past iOS 7??
I'm pretty sure most of these people are just making up fake stories for internet points.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheRoadRunner Avatar
47 months ago
The 5 and 5C have been around for a very long time in tech terms (2012/2013), so in my opinion you can’t complain about this. They’ve done well to be supported for this long.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
47 months ago

While I agree, it makes little sense to drop support.

I mean I can understand not porting new features and that would be legit, but keeping at least the text part wouldmake sense.
It's not quite that straightforward. When the app starts having different features gated to different devices, you increase its complexity quite a lot, plus encourage the dragging of bloat. It can also lead to security issues (through legacy, unsupported API use) and generally just bring the experience down for everyone.

Nearly ten years is a good run for software support.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mercedes33 Avatar
47 months ago
i use an Iphone 4s as my daily :)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BellSystem Avatar
47 months ago
Facebook needs more horsepower than the 5C can muster for examination of your messages.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Whathappened Avatar
47 months ago

i use an Iphone 4s as my daily :)
I don’t know why you like to hurt yourself but have fun!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)