Here are all the phones that WhatsApp will BLOCK from its chat app later this year

If you missed the initial announcement, here’s the bad news – WhatsApp is preparing to drop support for a number of popular smartphones. The messaging platform, comfortably the most popular on the planet with more than two billion monthly active users worldwide, is constantly adding new features.

So far this year, WhatsApp has added the ability to send self-destructing videos and photos that vanish after a few seconds. Users also gained the ability to join video calls after they’ve started – until now, recipients who didn’t pick-up when the initial call came in couldn’t join the conversation.

Bringing a steady stream of new features requires resources, so periodically, the teams at WhatsApp will review the number of versions of its app available.

WhatsApp will whittle down the number of versions of the chat app, so that it isn’t spending valuable time and money developing features for operating systems and handsets that few people use. Over the years, we’ve seen WhatsApp drop support a number of older handsets. And now, another cull is fast approaching.

WhatsApp is gearing up to drop support for a number of older iOS and Android in November. In total, WhatsApp will no longer be available on some 40 different devices.

Apple

With the latest refresh, one Apple handset will be dropped. Anyone with an iPhone 4S will no longer be able to download the latest version of WhatsApp. That’s because iPhone 4s isn’t able to upgrade to iOS 10 – the current minimum version of the Apple-designed operating system supported by WhatsApp – and remains stuck on iOS 9.

Android

In total, some 43 models of Android smartphone will cease to function in November, including Samsung, Huawei and Sony models.

Samsung

Anyone with a Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy SII, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2 will no longer be able to message on WhatsApp.

Huawei

A few older Huawei-branded handsets will lose access to WhatsApp in November, including the Huawei Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S, and Ascend D2.

Sony

Sony Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L, and Xperia Arc S owners will lose WhatsApp.

LG

LG Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5, Optimus L5, Optimus L5 II, Optimus L5 Dual, Optimus L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7 II Dual, Optimus L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact , Optimus L4 II Dual, Optimus F3, Optimus L4 II, Optimus L2 II, Optimus Nitro HD and 4X HD, and Optimus F3Q.

ZTE

The ZTE Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987, and Grand Memo.

And a few more…

The Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight, Alcatel One Touch Evo 7, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Lenovo A820, UMi X2, Faea F1, and THL W8.

If your smartphone is included on the list above, you’ll need to upgrade to a newer model with an operating system that’s supported by WhatsApp. Failing that, you’ll need to switch all of your one-on-one conversations and group chats to a new messaging service.

If you do decide to upgrade to a new model of smartphone, unfortunately, there’s no way to wirelessly transfer your chat history between platforms, from Android to iPhone. However, you can export your chat history as an email attachment to bring your message history over to your new handset before November 2021.

If you’re sticking with the same platform, from an iPhone 6S to a newer iPhone model, you’ll be able to use the built-in back-up features.