Everyone is waiting for the next WhatsApp shutdown. This is expected between New Year’s Eve and February, but so far there has been a lot of guesswork as to who it will affect.
WhatsApp users, watch out! The most widely used messenger could soon be on the verge of updating its system requirements. Even with past updates, millions of devices have lost access to WhatsApp. Traditionally, this happens up to twice a year, most recently in November 2021. Before that, there were such campaigns in February 2021 and on New Year’s Eve 2020. The only thing is that a new date has not yet been set.
Since November 1, 2021, millions of smartphone users have either had to do without WhatsApp or switch to a new smartphone. At the time, WhatsApp surprisingly announced the end of support for the messenger on a number of smartphones. Both Android and iOS devices were affected, as stated in the system requirements. Specifically, these are cell phones with Android 4.0.4. and iPhones with iOS 9.X and older.
The next step is expected
In addition, only selected phones with KaiOS 2.5.1 and newer, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2, are supported. Anyone who uses an iPhone 4s or older should therefore look into the tube; owners of newer iPhones may have to update their operating system. The WhatsApp-Off affects smartphones up to iPhone 4s for Apple devices and tablets up to iPad 2 or 3rd generation iPad, which can no longer import updates. And it also hit all devices where Android “Ice Cream Sandwich” stopped updating.
Not all affected devices can be updated, so WhatsApp disappears on millions of devices at once. There is no “grace period”: Even if it affects so many users, they either have to use a different device or switch to a different messenger app. That is precisely why it is eagerly awaited when WhatsApp will take the next step in its update processes.
Important: Don’t forget to back up your data!
The processes are as follows: First, the affected users can still use WhatsApp, but from the respective date onwards they can no longer create an account, verify themselves again or no longer install updates. At a later point in time, it will no longer run at all. Step number 1 is therefore to check whether the operating system can be updated.
If you haven’t set this automatically, you can check it on Android in Settings> System> Software update. On iOS this can be done under Settings> General> Software update. If an update is not possible, there are two alternatives. Instead of WhatsApp, an alternative app such as Telegram or Threema can be used.
The problem with this: Often your own contacts don’t feel like switching from WhatsApp to another provider. If you want to continue using WhatsApp, you usually have to use a new smartphone. But don’t forget to back up: If you install Messenger on a new mobile phone or delete the app, all messages are gone. But the chats can be saved. We’ll show you here how this works on Android and iOS.
