WhatsApp has received a new update – both for Android and iOS – that prevents the app from being used if the phone has its operating system out of date. A notification is displayed that encourages users to update their mobile phone.
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06/10/2026
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Uma new functionality introduced in Android and iOS versions of WhatsApp will start to prevent users from using the service if they have the mobile phone operating system not updated.
The information was advanced by wABetaInfo website, which indicates that users who do not have the habit of updating the mobile operating system – whether Android or iPhone – will receive a notification when trying to log into their WhatsApp accounts.
The notification (which you can see below) indicates that the mobile operating system should be updated, explaining even how users can update from the settings of their mobile devices.
“A mobile phone with outdated software puts your device at risk of being infected by malicious software”, can be read at the end of the notification. “Updating helps keep your device and your account safe”.
© WABETAInfo
It must be stressed that this WhatsApp notification does not mean that the application has any security vulnerability. Of course, applications usually have some errors, but this notification means that WhatsApp wants users to do their part with regard to security and keep mobile phones up to date.
“Like any other application, WhatsApp depends on the security guarantees the operating system offers”, can be read on the web page of WABETAInfo dedicated to this update. “ When the operating system is outdated, these guarantees weaken or disappear. WhatsApp is making this dependency explicit by refusing to make an account entry for obsolete operating systems”.
It should be remembered that WhatsApp has the habit of establishing new minimum requirements for the operation of your app, indicating which version of Android and iOS operating system users must have installed in order to be entitled to new features and security fixes.
More recently, on the day september 8, WhatsApp has established Android 6 version of Google's operating system as a new minimum requirement for these phones.
“ Every year we analyze older software and devices with fewer users”, can be read in the explanation of WhatsApp in official company website. “ These devices may also not have the latest security updates or may not have the features needed to run WhatsApp”.
With this new update introduced by WhatsApp, users with outdated operating systems are likely to be prevented from using the messaging app unless they decide to install new versions of the software.