Millions of iPhone and Android phones will stop running WhatsApp next week

WhatsApp will soon stop working on millions of smartphones next week.

The popular messaging service has already said it would not be supporting a number of devices  on December 31.

From February 1, WhatsApp users on several iPhones and Android smartphones will no longer be able to create new accounts or reverify existing accounts.

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This includes phones running on Android versions 2.3.7 and older, and iPhones on iOS 8 or older.

Thankfully, most smartphones are compatible with more up-to-date operating systems, so you should be able to update your device ahead of February 1, reports the Mirror.

For example, iOS 9 is available for iPhones going back as far as the iPhone 4s.

To find out which operating system your iPhone uses, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update - your current version will be displayed there.

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Meanwhile, on Android, you can find out your operating system, by going to Settings, then About Phone, then Software Info.

The news comes just days after WhatsApp stopped support for Windows smartphones.

WhatsApp said: “You'll no longer be able to use all Windows Phone operating systems after December 31, 2019, and WhatsApp might not be available in the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019.”