WhatsApp gains usernames and will need a number to start a conversation. In exactly one month, WhatsApp will stop working on older Android cell phones. The change comes into effect on September 8, 2026, when the application will only be compatible with devices running Android 6.0, released in 2015, or later versions. With the change, devices that stopped at versions 5.0 or 5.1 of Android will lose access to the application, as has happened with previous systems. In its Help Center, WhatsApp displays the message: "from September 8, 2026, WhatsApp will only be compatible with Android 6 and later. To continue using the application, the person needs to update the Android system or transfer the account to a device with a newer version. ?? For those using iPhone, a change is scheduled for November 30, 2026: from that date, WhatsApp will only be compatible with iOS 15.5 or later versions. WhatsApp app. Unsplash/Dimitri Karastelev ? See below how to check your Android version and if there is an update available: Click on the cell phone's "Settings" icon; Then tap "About device" (or "About phone"); These older models are not always able to support these updates. It is worth remembering that security updates are constant in any application and are essential to prevent the user — and especially their personal data — from becoming vulnerable. The company explains that, annually, it carries out an official list of devices that will no longer support the messaging app. which systems it is compatible with. Blocking unwanted calls generates dispute between operators at Anatel Why are so many people talking about Claude Get to know the most dangerous AI in the world?