This article was originally written for TheNintendoVillage.com, a website I founded and ran from 2018 to 2021.

Niantic, the developer behind Pokémon GO, have announced that they’re going to be focusing on streamlining development for the game, focusing entirely on 64 bit devices. As a result, 32-bit Android devices will no longer be supported.

Here’s the skinny:

“Here are some examples of 32-bit Android devices (note that this list is not exhaustive).
Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3, J3
Sony Xperia Z2, Z3
Motorola Moto G (1st generation)
Many Android devices released before 2015
When this update rolls out, Trainers using affected devices will no longer be able to access their Pokémon GO accounts from those devices, including their PokéCoins or items in their Item Bag. If you are using a 32-bit Android device, you will need a compatible 64-bit Android device or iOS device to continue playing Pokémon GO.
Be sure to have your account info and password saved somewhere so you can log back in on your new device! You can see a more comprehensive list of affected devices and learn more by visiting our help center.”

If you’re using a 64-bit Android or an iOS device you’ve got nothing to worry about, but if you are on an older Android phone, you’ll need to upgrade to play the game once the update rolls out in August.

Let us know if you’re gonna need to splash out on a new phone to catch ‘em all down in the comments!

Source: Pokémon Go Live