WhatsApp plans to block people whose phones have not been updated

[NR7]

They're not irrelevant. They're just not used by the general public but there are plenty of people who use them as secondary apps for collaboration because of the security.

So almost irrelevant, exactly what I said.

 

[Johnatan56]

Can't find the menu so had to do a search. Mine says last updated 1 May 2023. I did get the occasional Samsung system (not OS) updates which I can't turn off and it doesn't matter what my download settings are. My last security update was 1 July 2022. Android version is 10 which should be supported by Whatsapp for years to come but my phone is way out of date security wise.

If Whatsapp doesn't keep in mind that many phones don't get updates any more and can recognise them this is going to be a blunder where millions of people with perfectly fine phones get cut off.

Based on: https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5...gle-play-stuck-on-september-1st/td-p/13798097
Seems Samsung actually blocks them by default and have to approve, which is odd.
Also: https://www.sammobile.com/news/sams...d/?theme=dark&utm_source=com.sammobile.app.v2

Wonder if they just didn't turn back on for your guys' phone version. Forum says check Settings > Google > All services, but I can't check that, have a Pixel, specifically bought it for the 7 years of updates.

At least now all EU models of your phone should have at least 5 years of updates guaranteed.

 

[Swa]

Based on: https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5...gle-play-stuck-on-september-1st/td-p/13798097
Seems Samsung actually blocks them by default and have to approve, which is odd.
Also: https://www.sammobile.com/news/sams...d/?theme=dark&utm_source=com.sammobile.app.v2

Wonder if they just didn't turn back on for your guys' phone version. Forum says check Settings > Google > All services, but I can't check that, have a Pixel, specifically bought it for the 7 years of updates.

At least now all EU models of your phone should have at least 5 years of updates guaranteed.

Well quite a number of things under that so don't know what to check. The nearest I can find is "system services" but that only has "Google Play Services for AR" and "Android System Key Verifier" with available updates. The other 6 including "Google Play services" is listed as up to date.

This is the problem. The A7 is a 2018 model so well past the 5 year updates despite being a popular second hand phone. If Whatsapp blocks phones that are not updated despite there being no updates available it would effectively brick 5 year old phones and push people to other apps.