TECHDIGEST – Users of Apple’s old smartphone models, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c, will not be able to use WhatsApp after December 31, 2022.

The end of WhatsApp support will also affect 45 old models of Android devices, according to the instant message platform.

The affected Android phones include several models of several Huawei, LG, and Samsung smartphones. WhatsApp said users of the phones will be sent an alert before it stops working.

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Why support is ending

Explaining why it would have to end its support for the affected devices, WhatsApp said:“Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates.

“To choose what to stop supporting, every year we, like other technology companies, look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest number of people still using them. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp.”

List of affected phones: The phones that will no longer be able to use WhatsApp from January 1, 2023, include:

iPhone 5

iPhone 5c

Archos 53 Platinum

Grand S Flex ZTE

Grand X Quad V987 ZTE

HTC Desire 500

Huawei Ascend D

Huawei Ascend D1

Huawei Ascend D2

Huawei Ascend G740

Huawei Ascend Mate

Huawei Ascend P1

Quad XL

Lenovo A820

LG Enact

LG Lucid 2

LG Optimus 4X HD

LG Optimus F3

LG Optimus F3Q

LG Optimus F5

LG Optimus F6

LG Optimus F7

LG Optimus L2 II

LG Optimus L3 II

LG Optimus L3 II Dual

LG Optimus L4 II

LG Optimus L4 II Dual

LG Optimus L5

LG Optimus L5 Dual

LG Optimus L5 II

LG Optimus L7

LG Optimus L7 II

LG Optimus L7 II Dual

LG Optimus Nitro HD

Memo ZTE V956

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2

Samsung Galaxy Core

Samsung Galaxy S2

Samsung Galaxy S3 mini

Samsung Galaxy Trend II

Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2

Sony Xperia Arc S

Sony Xperia miro

Sony Xperia Neo L

Wiko Cink Five

Wiko Darknight ZT

Source: Nairametric 

The post WhatsApp to stop working on iPhone 5, 45 Android phones from December 31 appeared first on Tech Digest News.

A new WhatsApp update will prevent the popular messaging app from working on millions of phones from January 1, 2021.

Older Android and iPhone devices will no longer support the latest version of the app, forcing owners to either update their mobile operating system or buy a new smartphone.

Any iPhone not running iOS 9 or any phone not running at least Android 4.0.3 – also known as Ice Cream Sandwich – will no longer be able to open or operate the Facebook-owned app.

This means all iPhone models up to the iPhone 4 will be unable to support WhatsApp, as these phones are not capable of updating to iOS 9.

The iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S were all released before iOS 9, however owners can still update to the operating system if they are yet to do so.

Android phones that will lose WhatsApp support include the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Desire and LG Optimus Black.

Phone owners can see what software their device is using by checking the settings section. For iPhone users, this can be found under Settings > General >  Software update.

Most of the 2 billion WhatsApp users around the world will not be hit by the change, though the small fraction that are will likely comprise several million people worldwide.

Facebook is currently in the process of merging WhatsApp with Instagram and Facebook Messenger so users can interact seamlessly between all three platforms.

The post WhatsApp Will Not Run on Millions of Older Phones from January 1, 2021 appeared first on Tech Digest News.