BlackBerry has pulled the plug on BlackBerry OS devices, rendering them useless in 2022 (updated)

UPDATE 1/4/2021 8:50 AM ET: It’s official. Blackberry OS devices are officially dead. Blackberry device owners with Blackberry OS will no longer be able to make calls, text messages, or emergency functions. The original report follows below.

If you’re somehow still rocking an older Blackberry device running BlackBerry OS, we have some bad news. BlackBerry announced it’s shutting it down, essentially rendering any device running the operating system useless. 

But first, a quick history lesson. Back in 2015, BlackBerry stopped shipping out phones with BlackBerry OS and eventually switched to Android. Ultimately, the company pivoted away from hardware to software and let other companies design and sell Blackberry-branded phones. 

Phones running on the outdated BlackBerry OS have limited functionality. The only things you can do with it are simple functions like web browsing, SMS, and phone calls. Unfortunately, as of January 4, 2022, that functionality rides slowly into the sunset. 

“As a reminder, the legacy services for BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier versions, will no longer be available after January 4, 2022,” writes the company on a FAQ page. 

“As of this date, devices running these legacy services and software through either carrier or Wi-Fi connections will no longer reliably function, including for data, phone calls, SMS and 9-1-1 functionality.  

We thank our many loyal customers and partners over the years and invite you to learn more about how BlackBerry provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world.”

If you’re one of the very few number of people still using this operating system, the company set up a FAQ page that offers tips on migrating your data to other platforms. It also answers any lingering questions on the decision to end BlackBerry OS support.

READ MORE: BlackBerry’s 5G resurrection has been canceled

If you managed to go this long with BlackBerry OS, my first question is: How? My follow-up question: Why? Seriously, with all the options available today, how are people still using this? It’s almost 2022; it’s time to let it go.

UPDATE 1/4/2021 8:50 AM ET: It’s official. Blackberry OS devices are officially dead. Blackberry device owners with Blackberry OS will no longer be able to make calls, text messages, or emergency functions.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• A new 5G Android BlackBerry with a physical keyboard is making a comeback in 2021
• BlackBerry, the phone that keeps coming back, is being put to rest again
• Review: BlackBerry Key2 LE – how does it compare to the more expensive Key2?
• The consumer version of BlackBerry Messenger is shutting down in May

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com or find him on Mastodon or Post.