If you've not upgraded your Android phone in a long while there's bad news coming next week. WhatsApp has just confirmed that it will no longer support any devices running operating systems prior to Android 5.0. and the change kicks in within days.
In fact, it comes into effect from next week and will leave those unable to upgrade without access to their chats or group messages.
"Starting October 24, 2023, only Android OS version 5.0 and newer will be supported," WhatsApp confirmed in an update on its support pages. "To keep up with the latest advances in technology, we routinely stop supporting older operating systems to point our resources to supporting the latest ones.
"If we stop supporting your operating system, you’ll be notified and reminded a few times to upgrade your device to continue using WhatsApp."
So which devices are now going to be blocked?
Luckily, you'll have to be using pretty old devices to be affected by the changes as almost all modern call makers will be able to switch to one of Google's newer operating systems.
However, if you've not been to your local phone shop in a while and are still using a Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 you're out of luck.
Anyone with one of those Android phones in their pocket will need to buy something new to carry on using WhatsApp.
To make sure your Android phone is running the very latest version of Android simply head to Go Settings > About Phone' > Check for system updates.
If nothing shows up you know you're all up to date.
WhatsApp is no stranger to killing off older operating systems. In fact, this update tends to happen almost every year.
The last big change took place on December 31, 2022 with the app ending supporting 49 different models of smartphones
These included the Archos 53 Platinum, Grand S Flex ZTE, HTC Desire 500, Huawei Ascend D, D1 and D2, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, Core, S2, S3 mini and many more.