WhatsApp: iOS 15.5 will be mandatory Apfelpatient

Meta is once again raising WhatsApp's system requirements: From November 30, 2026, the messenger will only run on iPhones and iPads with iOS or iPadOS 15.5 or later. However, the increase is significantly less stringent than the last one.

WhatsApp regularly updates which operating systems it supports, removing the oldest and least-used versions in the process. Last year, Meta raised the minimum requirement to iOS 15.1, excluding the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. Now, the next step, taking effect at the end of the year, raises the bar even further.

iOS 15.5 will become mandatory at the end of November

As Meta announced, WhatsApp will require at least iOS 15.5 or iPadOS 15.5 starting November 30, 2026. Devices with an older system version will no longer be able to use the messenger after that date. For context: iOS 15.5 was released in May 2022, so it's a version that's several years old.

Meta provides the explanation right away: Because devices and software are constantly evolving, they regularly review the supported operating systems. Each year, they focus on the oldest systems with the fewest users – systems that often lack both the latest security updates and the necessary features for WhatsApp. The move is deliberately announced well in advance to give affected users time to prepare.

Why the cut hardly affects anyone this time

Unlike the last update, the new hurdle is unlikely to actually exclude many devices. The reason is simple: Every iPhone and iPad that can run iOS or iPadOS 15.1 can also be updated to version 15.5. In contrast to last year, when specific models like the iPhone 5s, 6, and 6 Plus were definitively excluded, this time no device will be left stranded solely because of the higher version number.

These older devices should be updated

The most affected models are those already stuck on iOS 15 and unable to update to iOS 16 or later. These include the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, the first-generation iPhone SE, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and, on the iPad side, the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4. Users of these devices should ensure they have the latest available version installed before the deadline – iOS 15.8.8 or iPadOS 15.8.8, respectively. This will ensure the devices meet the new minimum requirement and WhatsApp remains usable.

A mild intervention with a clear direction

For the vast majority of users, the new requirement changes nothing, as their devices are already running newer system versions. However, the increase shows the direction WhatsApp is heading: it is consistently aligning itself with current security and functionality standards and gradually phasing out outdated software. A quick look in the settings under General and About is all it takes to check whether your device is already compliant. (Image: Shutterstock / Mamun_Sheikh)