May 5th marked the deadline for WhatsApp users on old iPhone. If you’re caught downloading unofficial versions of WhatsApp, you could face a temporary ban.
On December 2nd, 2024, WhatsApp warned users that any iPhone that hadn’t been updated to iOS 15.1 – or beyond – by the 5th of May 2025, would lose all access to calls and messages that were stored on your WhatsApp. This would also include sending or receiving messages.
This came as a disappointment for old iPhone users who wouldn’t be able to update their phones to WhatsApp’s requirements, including three popular devices:
iPhone 5
iPhone 6
iPhone 6 plus
If you see your phone in the above list, you may want to consider upgrading.
Despite this update, it’s no real surprise why WhatsApp made this decision. The iPhones mentioned above were released in 2013 and 2014 respectively, over 10 years ago. The life cycle of a mobile phone includes updates that the old software can’t keep up with, hence future updates not being available to older phones.
WhatsApp and its developers are in tune with this logic as they continue to develop newer software and features that require more demanding software.
In their post titled ‘WhatsApp to drop support for older iOS versions and iPhone models starting May 2025’, their reasoning included:
One of the main reasons for this change is that newer versions of iOS include updated APIs and improved technologies that WhatsApp relies on to deliver new features. By not supporting older versions, WhatsApp will be able to optimize the app and introduce new features that simply wouldn’t be possible with outdated operating systems.
However, in light of the arrival of May 5th, WhatsApp issued a warning to those looking to cheat the system by downloading unofficial versions of its app and what the consequences could look like.
WhatsApp’s official website outlines how these fake apps ‘violate our Terms of Service. We don’t support these apps because we can’t validate their security practices’.
Using these unofficial apps, like GBWhatsApp or WhatsApp Plus to name some popular alternatives could result in the following:
- Your privacy and security are at risk. Unofficial apps carry malware that can steal your data, and damage your phone.
- There’s no guarantee your messages or your data, like your location or the files you share, will be private and secure.
- Your account might also be temporarily or permanently banned.
With these warnings in mind, its best to double check what software you’re downloading and to consider finally upgrading that phone of yours.
