WhatsApp is set to end support for Android 5.0 Lollipop later this year. According to WhatsApp’s official Help Center, the app currently supports Android 5.0 and newer, but starting September 8, 2026, only Android 6.0 and newer will be supported. That means phones still stuck on Android 5 will eventually lose official compatibility with one of the world’s most widely used messaging apps.
The Cutoff Date Is Now Official
This is not just a rumor from a leaker or beta build. WhatsApp’s support documentation now explicitly states the change, both on its supported operating systems page and its supported devices page. In plain terms, if a phone cannot be upgraded beyond Android 5, WhatsApp support is scheduled to end on September 8, 2026.
For affected users, that usually means one of two things: either WhatsApp will stop updating on the device, or the app may eventually stop working properly altogether. WhatsApp’s general guidance is that users need a device running a supported operating system to install and keep using the app.
Image showing WhatsApp's support ended warning (Source: Reddit)
Why WhatsApp Is Moving On From Android 5
WhatsApp regularly drops older operating systems as part of its normal support cycle. The company says it does this to stay current with newer phone technology and supported platforms. That is a common pattern across major apps, especially when older Android versions no longer receive modern platform support, security improvements, or app compatibility updates.
Android 5 is also far beyond its prime. Google ended Google Play services updates for Android Lollipop devices in July 2024, and 9to5Google reported at the time that Lollipop represented less than 1% of active devices. So while the platform is old, it has not disappeared completely, which is why a WhatsApp cutoff can still matter for a noticeable pocket of users on aging phones.
Will This Really Affect Millions of Phones?
The safest way to phrase it is that the change could affect remaining Android 5 users worldwide, but public data does not clearly prove a current global “millions” figure. WhatsApp has confirmed the support cutoff, but it has not published a user count for affected devices. Meanwhile, older reporting around Android 5 put Lollipop at less than 1% of active Android devices, which suggests the affected group is relatively small globally, even if it may still be significant in some countries or among users holding onto much older handsets.
That said, regional data shows very old Android versions can still linger. Statcounter’s 2026 version-share pages still surface Android 5 variants in some country-level breakdowns, which suggests the end of WhatsApp support will not be purely theoretical everywhere. The exact impact likely depends on region, carrier history, and how many low-cost or abandoned devices remain in use locally.
Which Phones Are Most Likely to Be Affected?
The phones at risk are older handsets that launched with Android 5 and never received a later major update. In practical terms, that means many 2014-2015 budget phones, some entry-level Samsung Galaxy models, older LG devices, older Motorola handsets, and various regional brands that stopped software support years ago. Because the issue is tied to the operating system version, not the brand name alone, two phones from the same company may be affected very differently depending on whether they were updated to Android 6 or beyond.
If a device is already on Android 6.0 Marshmallow or newer, it is not part of this cutoff. The key question is simply whether the phone can run Android 6 or later by the time WhatsApp makes the switch on September 8.
What Users Should Do Before September 8
Anyone using an older Android phone should check their software version now rather than waiting for WhatsApp to stop working. If the phone supports an update to Android 6 or newer, installing that update should keep the device compatible. If it does not, the realistic long-term fix is moving to a newer phone. WhatsApp also advises users to keep the app updated through the Play Store where possible.
It is also smart to back up chats before the deadline if the device is very old or unreliable. Even when support changes do not instantly break an app, unsupported devices tend to become harder to use over time as updates, login flows, and security expectations continue to move forward. That is an inference based on WhatsApp’s support model and the broader end of platform support for Lollipop-era Android devices.
The Bigger Picture
WhatsApp dropping Android 5 support is another sign that the mobile ecosystem is finally closing the door on Lollipop-era phones. Google has already ended Play services support for Lollipop, and now WhatsApp is setting a firm 2026 cutoff that moves its Android baseline to Android 6.0 and newer. For most people this will be a non-event, but for users still relying on very old phones, it could be the moment that forces an upgrade.