WhatsApp will again make an important adjustment to your list of compatible devices, and several models will stop working with the application from December 2025.
Meta applies this type of debugging on a regular basis to ensure that active devices can receive updates and security patches without affecting the overall performance of the platform.
As phones fall behind in software and hardware, keeping them compatible requires greater resources, and in many cases is no longer viable.
List of phones that lose compatibility with WhatsApp in December 2025
Apple
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
Samsung
LG
Motorola
HTC
Sony
WhatsApp warns in its Help Center that “before we stop supporting your operating system, You will receive a notification and will be reminded several times to update it”.
When you obtain this notice, it is advisable to check the software version in the section About device (Android) o Information (iPhone) to confirm if it can still be updated.
What to do if your phone is listed?
The safest alternative is to upgrade to a newer model. that can receive constant updates and work without limitations.
If it is not possible to replace the cell phone immediately, You can still access WhatsApp Web or the desktop versionalthough these options depend on the account being active on a compatible device.
When a phone can no longer receive updates or run new features, WhatsApp begins to experience major failures: slowness, unexpected shutdowns, loading errors and vulnerability to malware.
At the moment, WhatsApp is compatible with Android OS 5.0 or later and with iPhone from iOS 15.1. The devices that do not reach these minimum versions will be affected starting in December 2025.