New Delhi, April 29 -- WhatsApp is preparing to drop support for older Android smartphones later this year. The move, expected in September 2026, is part of the company's plan to improve performance and security as it adds new features.

According to multiple sources, WhatsApp will stop working on devices running Android versions earlier than 6.0 starting September 8. Phones still using Android 5.0 or 5.1 will no longer meet the minimum system requirements. This update will impact users with older devices who will need to upgrade to continue using WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business.

Dropping older Android versions allows WhatsApp to focus on improving speed, privacy, and reliability. Many of these older phones no longer receive soft...