Devices running on Android version 4.0.3 and iOS 9 and later will not be viable to run WhatsApp version, read its FAQ page. The Facebook-owned messaging app had made this announcement in early 2019.

WhatsApp will not be supporting several smartphones that are running on older Android and iOS versions from February 1. Devices running on Android version 4.0.3 and iOS 9 and later will not be viable to run WhatsApp version, read its FAQ page. The Facebook-owned messaging app had made this announcement in early 2019.

On a whole, it means that if one’s smartphone runs on the older operating system (OS) than the ones mentioned above, one needs to upgrade it to the latest version or get a smartphone running on supported operating systems to continue using facilities of WhatsApp. WhatsApp ended support for Windows Phone OS on December 31, 2019.

In case one is switching to a new device, here is how one can backup and restore its chat:

Open WhatsApp

Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup

Tap on Backup. You can set up an auto-backup to daily, weekly, and monthly.

You can also backup your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive.

Another method to save your WhatsApp chats is by going to the individual’s or group chat you want to export > tap on contact info and look for ‘Export Chat’.

You can choose to attach media content shared between you and the individual/ group before exporting the chat. An email will be composed of your chat history attached as a .txt document.