GB WhatsApp Android Requirements: Will It Run on Your Phone?

Open Settings, scroll to About phone (sometimes under System), and look for Android version. Some manufacturers show it under Software information. Write down the number, then compare it with the requirement for the latest build shown on the versions page.

1. Open Settings on your phone.
2. Tap About phone or System, then Software information if needed.
3. Read the Android version line.
4. Compare it with the minimum: Android 6.0 or higher.

The installer is around 78 MB, but the installed app takes more space and grows as chats and media accumulate. A sensible target is to have well over the installer size free before you start, and plenty more if you receive lots of photos and videos. To see what you have, open Settings, then Storage.

Freeing up space

• Delete unused apps and large downloads.
• Move photos and videos to cloud storage or a computer.
• Clear cached data for apps that you rarely use.

RAM tips

There is no firm RAM number to quote, and it varies with how many apps you leave open. On a phone with limited memory, close background apps before opening the app, avoid heavy themes, and restart the device now and then. If the app keeps closing, the troubleshooting guide lists other causes.

Phone processors differ, and in some cases the architecture of your device can matter for which build installs or runs well. It is not something to worry about by default. If an install fails with a message about compatibility, or the release notes mention a particular architecture, that is when to check. Your phone's About section and the notes for the build you are using are the places to look.

If installation fails for another reason, see what to do when installation fails.

Because the app is not on Google Play, Android asks you to allow installs from the app you used to open the file. On Android 8 and later this is a per-app setting called Install unknown apps, applied to the browser or file manager you are using. On versions older than 8, there is instead a single Unknown sources switch in security settings.

Also remember that this is an unofficial, third-party build. It is not made, released or supported by WhatsApp LLC or Meta, and WhatsApp's terms do not permit unofficial clients. The official app from Google Play (opens in a new tab) is the safest-supported choice.

• Tablets: may install, but the interface is designed for phones and some builds will not behave properly or accept phone-number registration.
• Emulators on a computer: not guaranteed to work. Registration, notifications and file access can fail.
• iPhone and iPad: not supported. This is an Android APK, and Apple devices cannot install it.

Consider a practical example. You own a six-year-old phone on an older Android version and a newer tablet. The tablet may meet the version requirement on paper but lack a SIM for verification, while the old phone is below the minimum. In that case neither is a good fit, and the official app from the store may be more appropriate for you.