WhatsApp will stop working on 49 smartphone models leaving millions of users without the app from December 31.

The messaging platform has just announced it will no longer be available on certain phones.

Users with older iPhones and Androids handsets will need to get an upgrade after December 31 in order to use the app going into the New Year.

In total, 49 models will be affected – including a number of Huawei, LG and Samsung phones.

The app has reportedly been programmed to issue an alert to those affected before the instant messaging service stops working.

A statement issued by WhatsApp said: “To keep up with the latest advances in tech, we routinely stop supporting older operating systems to point our resources to supporting the latest ones.

“If we stop supporting your operating system, you’ll be notified and reminded a few times to upgrade your device to continue using WhatsApp.

“Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates.

“These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp.

“To choose what to stop supporting, every year we, like other technology companies, look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest number of people still using them,” whatsapp said.

List of phones to stop supporting WhatsApp:

iPhone 5
iPhone 5C
Archos 53 Platinum
Grand S Flex ZTE
Grand X Quad V987 ZTE
HTC Desire 500
Huawei Ascend D
Huawei Ascend D1
Huawei Ascend D2
Huawei Ascend G740
Huawei Ascend Mate
Huawei Ascend P1
Quad XL
Lenovo A820
LG Enact
LG Lucid 2
LG Optimus 4X HD
LG Optimus F3
LG Optimus F3Q
LG Optimus F5
LG Optimus F6
LG Optimus F7
LG Optimus L2 II
LG Optimus L3 II
LG Optimus L3 II Dual
LG Optimus L4 II
LG Optimus L4 II Dual
LG Optimus L5
LG Optimus L5 II
LG Optimus L5 II Dual
LG Optimus L7
LG Optimus L7 II
LG Optimus L7 II Dual
LG Optimus Nitro HD
Memo ZTE V956
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
Samsung Galaxy Core
Samsung Galaxy S2
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
Samsung Galaxy Trend II
Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
Sony Xperia Arc S
Sony Xperia miro
Sony Xperia Neo L
Wiko Cink Five
Wiko Darknight ZT (Daily Trust)

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