WhatsApp and the cell phone hoax that stops working on December 31: everything that changes

The list of mobiles that can install WhatsApp is really wide, most smartphones with up to 10 years they can use their instant messaging. And the rumor that, as of December 31, WhatsApp leaves a good collection of phones behind is not true: compatibility with the platform does not change with the jump of the year.

There are rumors circulating with some frequency that eventually jump into the media. And one of the most insistent in the field of technology is the one concerning WhatsApp: occasionally a notice pops up when the app stops working on a series of phones

. Beyond the fact that Meta restricts access to very old versions of Android, it is not true that this is happening at the speed of current affairs. The one regarding the end of support on December 31 is a good example.

Android 4.1 is still the minimum to have WhatsApp

According to the news circulating now, WhatsApp stops working on a list of 49 cellphones on December 31st. The news comes from GizmoChina, a medium that started the snowball by creating a list of smartphones that have remained on the previous version that WhatsApp currently supports, version 4.1. These mobiles have not been able to access WhatsApp for months, including iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C. They will not suffer the cut on January 1.

The list of phones is random and only takes into account their latest version of Android as a common denominator, not that they point to an end of support. Indeed, by filling in a real list of incompatible mobiles, the number would exceed 500

(via GSMArena); Based on phones that launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and were able to update (hopefully) to max Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the minimum to use WhatsApp.

As WhatsApp’s help page states, current Android support covers all phones that have at least Android 4.1. This minimum has been in place for months and will remain unchanged at the start of 2023; at least until WhatsApp changes its mind, which is not expected. The company adjusts the needs according to the number of phones available.

We contacted WhatsApp and the company told us that “has no further comments on this topic“. In conversation with WaBetaInfo, expert medium and recognized in everything related to WhatsApp, he assured us that all the news related to a drop in support on December 31, 2022 is false. WaBetaInfo itself has denied similar rumors on other occasions.

If you have a mobile with Android 4.1, you will keep WhatsApp on January 1

The messaging app maintains support for a version of Android born in 2012, 10 years ago. And he will always stand with the turn of the year: there is no ultimatum or countdown. Now, this compatibility will surely not be maintained too much: it would not be strange if WhatsApp increased the requirements throughout 2023.