WhatsApp is dropping for iOS 10 and iOS 11 and has silently made iOS 12 as the minimum software requirement for iPhone s. By leaving the older iOS versions behind, WhatsApp is finally discontinuing for the models iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c — giving s a reason to a newer iPhone. WhatsApp has started informing s on the iOS 10 and iOS 11 about the update. Dropping for the older iOS versions essentially means that WhatsApp s would no longer be able to receive new updates as well as security fixes for the instant messaging app until they move to a new iOS version — or a newer hardware running iOS 12 or a later version.
A screenshot, which has been iOS 11 starting as early as October 24. The app is recommending s to update to a newer iOS version to continue to receive WhatsApp .

WhatsApp for iOS is informing s on older software versions about the update
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo
Updating to a newer iOS release is not practically possible if you own an iOS 12 to retain WhatsApp's .
WhatsApp has updated its ed operating systems FAQ page on the Help Centre site to show that it is ing and recommending s to have an iPhone running iOS 12 or a newer version. The App Store listing of WhatsApp has also been updated to reflect the change in software requirements. Details from the Web archives show that WhatsApp quietly upgraded iOS compatibility this month.
As a result of the update, s on iOS 10 and iOS 11 are no longer able to install WhatsApp from the App Store. In case you already have WhatsApp installed on the older iOS version, though, you are likely to receive in of updates and security fixes until October.
This is not the first time when WhatsApp is leaving for an older software version. It is, in fact, a general practice to make the popular messaging app available and ed only on the newer operating systems.
Last year, WhatsApp stopped ing s on Android 4.0.4 and started recommending to Android 4.1 or a later version to receive its .
The share of s on iOS 10 and iOS 11 is quite insignificant when compared with those on a newer version. According to Apple's own statistics, as much as 63 percent of all its iPhone base use iOS 15.