WhatsApp has officially ended support for smartphones operating on an outdated version of Android, following Google’s decision to obsolete these older devices several months ago. The Meta-owned messaging service ceased updates this week for users whose devices run on Android 4.4, commonly known as Android KitKat. Statistics indicate that a small number of users are still utilizing this version, and they will need to upgrade their software or acquire a newer smartphone to maintain access to the platform.
On Tuesday, feature tracker WABetaInfo highlighted that WhatsApp has raised its minimum requirements to smartphones operating on Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or newer. Android KitKat made its debut in September 2013, allowing users with this operating system to access WhatsApp for nearly ten years.
Latest data from Google, as reported by Mishaal Rahman, reveals that the percentage of devices running on Android 4.4 ranged from 0.5 percent to 0.7 percent as of May 2023, based on the most recent statistics.
With the discontinuation of support for Android 4.4, users on this outdated version must either update their devices to Android 5.0, if available from their manufacturers, or switch to a newer model altogether.
Without upgrading to Android 5.0, which is now the minimum version supported by WhatsApp, users will not be able to receive updates. This situation means that new features, such as support for passkeys, a revamped bottom navigation bar, and future enhancements like multi-account support will remain inaccessible unless users transition to a compatible Android device.
