WhatsApp Ends Support for Android 5.0 and 5.1 Devices Starting September 8, 2026
WhatsApp has ended support for smartphones running Android 5.0 and 5.1 as of September 8, 2026. Users with devices on these older versions can no longer use WhatsApp unless they upgrade to Android 6.0 or newer. The company announced this change months ago and issued in-app alerts to affected users. Those unable to update their phones will need to switch to newer devices to continue using WhatsApp. Users are advised to back up their chats before upgrading or changing devices.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (50/100). Lens Score 36/100.
Outlets measured: timesnow, freepressjournal. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (50–50/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
freepressjournal broke this story on 8 Sept, 06:56 am. Other outlets followed.