Firefox ends support for Windows 7: Upgrade to 10 or Linux
Image: Firefox
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports that Mozilla Firefox has ended support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, with version 115 being the final release for these older operating systems.
- Users can receive security updates through the Extended Support Release channel until February 2026, but must eventually upgrade their systems for continued protection.
- Mozilla recommends upgrading to Windows 10 or 11, or switching to Linux to maintain Firefox compatibility and receive future browser updates.
It’s been a long road, gettin’ from there to here… with “there” being Windows 7’s release way back in 2009, and “here” being Mozilla’s eventual end of support for it in the latest version of Firefox. As of version 115, Firefox will no longer support Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. If you’re hearing taps in the background, you’re not the only one.
Version 115 is actually already pretty out of date—the latest generational release is 147 as of this writing. Version 115 is back in the Extended Support Release channel, a staggered version of the browser designed to get major updates less frequently (only once a year or so), sticking to only essential security patches on an advanced scale. It’s designed for enterprises that need more stability, or as is the case here, functionality on older software and hardware. Updates to the 115 ESR version will be offered “until the end of February 2026.”
Firefox’s support for older versions of Windows is actually pretty protracted already. Initially, Mozilla had intended to sunset its support in 2024, but ended up extending it twice. Previously, there was some ambiguity about yet another extension with an estimated end date, according to Neowin, but Mozilla has spelled it out as of now. Other browsers ended official support for Windows 7 long ago.
Mozilla has a few suggestions if you’d like to hang on… but you can probably guess what they are. On the release page, the company suggests upgrading to Windows 10 (tricky!) or Windows 11, or switching over to Linux (where Firefox is often the pre-installed default).
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 15-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
