WhatsApp for LG K8 (2017)

The K8 (2017) shipped on an old Android version (6.0 Marshmallow, with 7.0 Nougat on some variants) and never got newer OS updates, so current WhatsApp releases gradually drop support for older Android. Open the Play Store, search WhatsApp, and install any update still offered for your device; if the newest build refuses to install, keep the most recent compatible version and back up your chats regularly via Settings > Chats > Chat backup. Long term, moving to a phone on Android 9 or newer is the only reliable fix, since WhatsApp requires a recent Android version and keeps raising that minimum. See how others solved this on Reddit

There is no official LineageOS build for the K8 (2017, model X240AR), only community attempts, so you would need to unlock the bootloader and flash an unofficial build manually, which carries a real risk of bricking. If you go this route, back up everything first, confirm your exact model number under Settings > General > About phone > Hardware info, and follow a build thread for your specific variant, since flashing the wrong image causes a bootloop. For most users, staying on stock or upgrading the phone is safer than chasing an unofficial ROM just to keep messaging apps current. See how others solved this on Reddit

Bootloops on older LG phones often follow a failed update, a bad flash, or aging storage. First try a forced restart by holding Power plus Volume Down for about 10 seconds until it reboots. If it still loops, the last software option on these LG models is a hardware factory reset: with the phone off, hold Power + Volume Down, and when the LG logo appears release and immediately re-hold both keys until the factory reset screen appears, then confirm (this erases your data). If looping continues after a reset, it usually points to a hardware fault that needs service. See how others solved this on Reddit

Floating chat bubbles are memory-heavy and the K8 (2017) only has 1.5GB of RAM, so they stutter when other apps are open. Disable the floating bubbles (in Messenger turn off chat heads, or just use WhatsApp's standard chat view), then clear the app cache under Settings > Apps > the app > Storage > Clear cache, and close background apps before chatting. Keeping fewer apps running and restarting the phone regularly noticeably reduces freezing on low-RAM hardware like this. See how others solved this on Reddit