Surfshark stops updating app for older Android phones – check your version now

• Surfshark Android 5.0 app will no longer receive updates
• Users need an Android running 6.0 or higher OS for official app support
• Manual connections are still available for legacy hardware

Surfshark, one of the market's best VPN providers, has issued a warning to users holding onto older smartphones: it is time to update your device.

In a blog post published last week, the provider confirmed that it has ceased support for the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) operating system (OS). While the move has technically "been in place for a while," Surfshark has now formally detailed the cut-off to clarify why older phones "won't receive the latest updates."

Going forward, the official Surfshark app requires Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer. Devices stuck on Android 5.0 are now classified as legacy hardware that will miss out on critical patches, new features, and the stability improvements rolled out to modern systems.

The decision allows the company to focus its resources on forward-looking technology. Surfshark explained the shift helps "ensure the safety of our apps and align them with the latest technology."

By shedding the technical debt associated with maintaining code for a 12-year-old operating system, the provider says it can "accelerate the development and testing of new features and strengthen overall application security."

Ready for 'Baklava' and beyond

While dropping support for Android 5.0 might inconvenience a small number of users, Surfshark’s announcement highlights an impressive commitment to future-proofing. The provider’s support list already includes Android 16 (Baklava), which is listed as "fully supported with the newest app."

This aligns with the provider's ambitious 2026 roadmap, where infrastructure depth and adaptability are key pillars. Ensuring the app is ready for upcoming Android iterations while retiring the obsolete Lollipop OS is a clear signal that Surfshark is prioritizing modern security standards over legacy compatibility.

This is particularly relevant given recent upgrades; for instance, Surfshark added post-quantum encryption to its apps to combat future threats. Such advanced cryptographic features often require system dependencies that simply cannot be securely implemented on outdated Android kernels.

What to do if you are stuck on Android 5.0

If you are using a device running Android 5.0, your Surfshark app will not immediately stop working. However, using an outdated security tool is risky. Without updates, the app may eventually become incompatible with server-side changes or fail to protect against newer vulnerabilities.

Surfshark’s advice is straightforward: "The safest choice would be updating your software to the latest available version that has all the needed security updates."

For those who cannot afford a new phone or upgrade their OS, Surfshark has outlined three manual workarounds that bypass the need for the official app entirely:

• Manual WireGuard connection: Users can generate configuration files from their account dashboard and use the generic WireGuard app.
• Manual OpenVPN connection: Similarly, the OpenVPN Connect app can be used with Surfshark credentials.
• Router connections: By installing the VPN directly onto a compatible router, every device on the network, including old Android phones, receives protection without needing software installed on the device itself.

For the vast majority of subscribers, no action is needed.

Surfshark confirmed that every version from Android 6.0 through to Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream) and the upcoming Android 16 remains "fully supported with the newest app."

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