WhatsApp to End Support for iOS 10 and iOS 11, Require iPhone 5S or Later to Work - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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

Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp Now Lets You Reserve a Username

Monday June 29, 2026 4:01 pm PDT by
Popular messaging app WhatsApp is now allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of plans to launch username-based messaging. Right now, WhatsApp uses a person's phone number as an identifier, but usernames will allow people to interact without having to exchange personal information. Username reservations are rolling out starting this week, and not all users will have access to the...
Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp Beta Adds Green Dot to Show Who's Online

Monday July 6, 2026 3:56 am PDT by
WhatsApp appears to be introducing a new visual indicator that shows when a contact is online, according to WaBetaInfo. The feature adds a small green circle to a contact's profile photo when they're active in the app, and which disappears the moment they leave, all updated in real time. The indicator is now being tested for the WhatsApp iPhone app in TestFlight after it debuted on Android...
Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp Beta Reveals iCloud Backup Alternative for iPhone

Tuesday July 14, 2026 3:06 am PDT by
WhatsApp is developing a first-party cloud storage option for chat backups on iPhone, providing users with an alternative to iCloud for the first time, according to app tinkerer WABetaInfo. Code found in the WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 26.28.10.16), available through TestFlight, suggests that users will eventually be able to pick their preferred backup destination directly from the app's...

Top Rated Comments

54 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
54 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)
54 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
54 months ago
i use an Iphone 4s as my daily :)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BellSystem Avatar
54 months ago
Facebook needs more horsepower than the 5C can muster for examination of your messages.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 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)