At least 53 types of mobile phones of various brands will be blocked by WhatsApp starting November 1, 2021. WhatsApp has suggested to replace it with a new one because it can be said that the WhatsApp application on the affected cellphone will 'become suspended'. Why is that?
WhatsApp on a cellphone that is no longer supported by updates may not stop working right away. "Even though WhatsApp no longer supports the list of cellphones, it doesn't mean that the application immediately stops working," said CTPost.
"Actually, the biggest problem with devices that are not supported by WhatsApp is that they can't access security updates. This makes the device a target for hackers who can exploit it to retrieve user data," they explained.
But even though it can still work, some functions of the application may not be accessible, thereby reducing comfort. That's why WhatsApp asks affected users to change devices immediately.
It is also possible that the application is difficult to work. For that, it's a good idea to save the chat before November 1st. "Please change to a supported device or save your chat history before that date," WhatsApp said.
You do this by opening WhatsApp > tap More options, namely the three dots at the top right > Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Backup. Saved chats can be accessed on new devices.
"WhatsApp will no longer support Android phones running OS 4.0.4 and earlier on November 1, 2021. Please switch to a supported device or save your chat history before that date," WhatsApp wrote on the Android FAQ page.
If you look at it, some of the cellphones affected by WhatsApp blocking are still quite widely used today. Call it the iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S Plus. On Android, there are for example the Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy XCover 2 and others. The full list is here.
If the affected phone user changes their phone to a newer version, they can still use the old WhatsApp account with the same number. If for one reason or another you have not been able to change to a new one, you can use alternative services such as Signal or Telegram for security.
