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The June 1, 2025 WhatsApp cutoff affected three iPhones: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. WhatsApp raised its minimum requirement to iOS 15.1, which those models cannot run. The change did not disable the phones or affect every older iPhone. If you still use an older model, check its iOS version before deciding whether to update, transfer your chats, or replace it. A separate change is expected on November 30, 2026, when WhatsApp is reported to require iOS 15.5 or later.
Which iPhones lost WhatsApp support in June 2025?
From June 1, 2025, WhatsApp required an iPhone to run iOS 15.1 or later. The reported cutoff removed the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus from WhatsApp’s supported-device pool because they cannot update to iOS 15.1. The date had originally been reported as May 5, then was delayed to June 1, according to 9to5Mac.
| iPhone model | June 2025 result | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 5s | WhatsApp no longer supported | Cannot run iOS 15.1 |
| iPhone 6 | WhatsApp no longer supported | Cannot run iOS 15.1 |
| iPhone 6 Plus | WhatsApp no longer supported | Cannot run iOS 15.1 |
| iPhone 6s | Not automatically excluded in June 2025 | Can run iOS 15.1 or later |
| iPhone 6s Plus | Not automatically excluded in June 2025 | Can run iOS 15.1 or later |
| iPhone SE (1st generation) | Not automatically excluded in June 2025 | Can run iOS 15.1 or later |
The distinction matters: some reports lumped the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, or original iPhone SE into the affected group simply because they are old. Those models were not automatically barred by the June 2025 requirement. Their owners still needed to install a qualifying iOS version; an eligible model running older software could fall below WhatsApp’s minimum.
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Meta’s WhatsApp set the app’s minimum iOS version. Apple’s device-support limits determined which iPhones could meet it. The result was that the 5s, 6, and 6 Plus could no longer run a supported version of WhatsApp. Their other functions did not suddenly stop working: the cutoff concerned WhatsApp compatibility, not the phone as a whole.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Check your iOS version before making a decision
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then About.
- Find iOS Version or Software Version. The wording can vary slightly by iOS release.
- To see whether an update is available, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
For the June 2025 rule, iOS 15.1 or later met the stated minimum; iOS 15.0 or earlier did not. If the phone cannot be offered iOS 15.1 or later, a normal software update cannot make it meet that requirement. In particular, the iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus cannot be updated to iOS 15.1.
Can updating fix it?
Yes, if the iPhone model can run the required version. Owners of an iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, or first-generation iPhone SE should install the newest iOS update available to their device and check WhatsApp’s current requirement as well as the historical June 2025 threshold.
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
Before updating, connect to Wi-Fi, charge the phone, and make a backup. If Software Update does not offer a version that meets the app’s requirement, do not assume that repeatedly checking will overcome the model’s update ceiling. For the iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus, replacing the device or using another way to communicate is the practical choice if WhatsApp is essential.
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What might an affected user see?
The exact behavior can vary by app version and account state. WhatsApp may show an unsupported-version or upgrade warning, the App Store may no longer offer a compatible current release, or the app may stop functioning normally. Do not rely on an old installation continuing to work as a dependable long-term solution.
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- Fully unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US-Cellular, Cricket, Metro, etc.).
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charging cable that may be generic.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Save your chats before moving to another iPhone
If WhatsApp still opens on the old phone, protect your history before switching devices. WhatsApp’s Help Center is the place to check current backup and transfer instructions; the migration methods reported at the time included iCloud chat backup and WhatsApp’s Chat Transfer feature.
- Confirm that you can still open WhatsApp and access the account.
- In WhatsApp’s chat-backup settings, create an iCloud backup. Wait for it to finish and note the completion time.
- Check that the Apple ID and iCloud account needed for the backup will be available on the replacement iPhone, and that there is enough iCloud storage.
- Install WhatsApp on the new iPhone and verify the same phone number. If WhatsApp offers its device-to-device Chat Transfer process, follow the current in-app instructions.
- Restore the backup or complete the transfer, then check important conversations and media—including photos, documents, and voice notes.
- Do not erase or trade in the old phone until you have confirmed that the history you need is present on the new one.
An iCloud backup is not the same as an export that you can browse outside WhatsApp. A full iCloud account, a different Apple ID, a backup that never completed, a changed phone number, or a failed verification step can complicate restoration. Media may also take longer to return than text messages. Keep the old phone intact until you have checked what matters.
Rank #4
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
Is WhatsApp Web a solution?
WhatsApp Web at web.whatsapp.com was reported as a possible fallback, but it is not an equivalent replacement for the native iPhone app. Whether it works can depend on the account’s linked-device state and WhatsApp’s current rules. It may not solve registration, verification, notifications, calling, or account-recovery problems. Treat it as something to try for temporary access—not as a guarantee that an unsupported phone can keep using WhatsApp.
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This is separate from the June 2025 cutoff: a later report says WhatsApp is expected to require iOS 15.5 or later starting November 30, 2026. The reported list of users who need to pay attention includes owners of iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, first-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus who have not updated sufficiently. Those models are not the same as the three devices that lost support in June 2025. The later change is described as an update requirement for those devices, not an automatic model ban, because they can run iOS 15.5 or later in the iOS 15 branch. See the reported November 2026 requirement and check WhatsApp’s current requirements before relying on any older phone.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
Update, replace, or switch messaging apps?
- Update first if your model can install the required iOS version and its battery, storage, and other functions remain adequate. A purchase may be unnecessary if software is the only issue.
- Replace the phone if it cannot reach the required iOS version and WhatsApp is essential. Choose a device based on current compatibility, available software updates, condition, battery, and carrier status—not only the fact that it once met an older minimum.
- Check carefully if buying used. Confirm the exact model and installed iOS, whether an update is available, battery condition, carrier lock, activation lock, and storage. A used iPhone 6s or iPhone 7 may meet a requirement today but is not a promise of future compatibility.
- Consider another messaging service only after checking where your contacts actually communicate. iMessage, SMS/RCS, Signal, or Telegram may work for some contacts, but switching does not automatically move family, work, or international groups off WhatsApp.
Avoid unofficial WhatsApp clones, modified apps, jailbreak workarounds, and third-party recovery tools. They can put account credentials and private data at risk, and may violate WhatsApp’s rules. Use WhatsApp’s official download page and support guidance when moving to a compatible device.
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