As of January 2026, WhatsApp requires at least Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or newer.
WhatsApp introduced end-to-end encryption for all chats. Older Android versions lack the necessary cryptographic libraries (like the latest OpenSSL). Running the app on an unsupported OS creates a “zombie” client that cannot verify the security keys of modern devices. whatsapp apk para android 412 work
Starting September 8, 2026 , the minimum requirement will increase to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) . As of January 2026, WhatsApp requires at least Android 5