Whatsapp no longer compatible with iPhone 6 - how to get around it?

homeless9

Hi, I am not keen on buying a £400+ new iPhone 13 to 16 just to get Whatsapp now it's no longer compatible with my iPhone 6.

My hope was to access Whatsapp via the desktop app instead. This was working for a couple of days after Whatsapp stopped working on my phone, but now the desktop app is asking me to 'login' which requires linking it to my iPhone via a QR code. It says...

Open Whatsapp
Tap Settings.
Tap Linked devices and then Link Device. - This is where nothing comes up relating to link a device.

Does anyone know if it's even possible to link my desktop Whatsapp to my iPhone6 Whatsapp after apple have removed compatibility to the iPhone 6?


if I am at a dead end with doing that....then are there any 'shadow' apps that can somehow emulate Whatsapp without me having to get all my family and friends to download a separate chat app?

Thanks.

Olinda99

If you are happy using WhatsApp on your desktop then to me that implies you don't particularly need it when you are out and about

if this is so then you could buy a very cheap Android phone (no SIM) and put whatsapp on that and use it at home connected to your router via Wi-Fi

flaneurs_lobster

It's not Apple who have removed access, WhatsApp have updated their app and have made your phone (or rather the version of iOS it runs) no longer compatible.

WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption, there are no "shadow" apps or similar. It needs a mobile device running the app and signed into the service before you can attach desktop "mirror" apps. Not going to work on your iPhone 6.

Easiest to replace your phone, either reconditioned Apple or cheap Android would work; other options would need a second (cheap) device and an additional mobile phone number that you would need to disseminate to your contacts just for messaging - not practical and not money saving.

homeless9

Olinda99 said:

If you are happy using WhatsApp on your desktop then to me that implies you don't particularly need it when you are out and about

if this is so then you could buy a very cheap Android phone (no SIM) and put whatsapp on that and use it at home connected to your router via Wi-Fi

That is a good point. Yeah, I don't need to be able to instantly respond to messages.

By cheap do you mean £100 or can they be gotten cheaper than that?

MattMattMattUK

homeless9 said:

Hi, I am not keen on buying a £400+ new iPhone 13 to 16 just to get Whatsapp now it's no longer compatible with my iPhone 6.

My hope was to access Whatsapp via the desktop app instead. This was working for a couple of days after Whatsapp stopped working on my phone, but now the desktop app is asking me to 'login' which requires linking it to my iPhone via a QR code. It says...

Open Whatsapp
Tap Settings.
Tap Linked devices and then Link Device. - This is where nothing comes up relating to link a device.

Does anyone know if it's even possible to link my desktop Whatsapp to my iPhone6 Whatsapp after apple have removed compatibility to the iPhone 6?


if I am at a dead end with doing that....then are there any 'shadow' apps that can somehow emulate Whatsapp without me having to get all my family and friends to download a separate chat app?

Thanks.

No, it is a locked down secured ecosystem. There is no way to link for a non-supported phone OS. 

I would strongly suggest you upgrade your phone though, Apple stopped providing security updates in 2022 and so it will be increasingly vulnerable. You can get a refurbished iPhone 13 5G from GiffGaff (other refurbished phone sellers are available) for £219 and that phone has support until at least 2028.

flaneurs_lobster

homeless9 said:

Olinda99 said:

If you are happy using WhatsApp on your desktop then to me that implies you don't particularly need it when you are out and about

if this is so then you could buy a very cheap Android phone (no SIM) and put whatsapp on that and use it at home connected to your router via Wi-Fi

That is a good point. Yeah, I don't need to be able to instantly respond to messages.

By cheap do you mean £100 or can they be gotten cheaper than that?

Others can confirm, but doesn't WhatsApp for Web (and the desktop app) need mobile connected WhatsApp running in order to connect? Everything hangs off the mobile number.

MattMattMattUK

flaneurs_lobster said:

homeless9 said:

Olinda99 said:

If you are happy using WhatsApp on your desktop then to me that implies you don't particularly need it when you are out and about

if this is so then you could buy a very cheap Android phone (no SIM) and put whatsapp on that and use it at home connected to your router via Wi-Fi

That is a good point. Yeah, I don't need to be able to instantly respond to messages.

By cheap do you mean £100 or can they be gotten cheaper than that?

Others can confirm, but doesn't WhatsApp for Web (and the desktop app) need mobile connected WhatsApp running in order to connect? Everything hangs off the mobile number.

Yes, the desktop app and web is just live syncing with the phone app.

Molko123

As already said it's not the iPhone 6 per se that's not compatible with What's App rather the version of the OS that runs on it.

One option would be to get the cheapest iPhone (if you wanted to stay with Apple) that supports the latest version of iOS (iOS 18)

The iPhone XR supports iOS 18 and is currently *from* £99 giffgaff refurbished.

iOS 19 is to be announced June 9th along side what devices it will support (rumoured to be iPhone 11 onwards) and released in the autumn.

Hope this helps

QrizB

Replacing your iPhone is probably the best option.

If you really don't want to do that, you can get a refurbished Android for £50 or so.