Windows 7 is a relatively outdated operating system, although some users still love it. So many significant browsers and other programs, including Google Chrome, still support it. However, nearly three years after official Windows 7 support ended, Chrome is preparing to say goodbye, and other browsers are following suit.
Google had previously stopped officially supporting Windows 7, but new browser versions were still running on the operating system. Now, Google has announced that Chrome 109, due out in January 2023, will be the last version to support Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. The next update after that, Chrome 110, will require Windows 10 or 11.
Also, Google says it will no longer release updates for older versions of Windows. Including no new security updates. This is already commonplace for Windows 7, as Microsoft stopped releasing security updates for that operating system in 2020, but several emergency fixes have been released since then. Windows 8 is on extended support until July 11, 2023, and updates for Windows 8.1 will stop on Jan. 10, 2023.
Also, remember that many modern browsers and web apps are based on Chrome, an open-source version of Google Chrome. The fact that Google is dropping support for Windows 7 means that Chrome browsers will soon stop working on that operating system.
Microsoft has confirmed in its Blogger that Edge 109 will be the last version of the web browser on Windows 7, 8/8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2. On those platforms, the company’s Webview2 Runtime will not be updated after version 109. Microsoft stated, “while Microsoft Edge and Webview2 Runtime versions 109 and earlier will continue to run on these operating systems, these versions will not receive new features, future security updates, or bug fixes.“
For now, the only colossal browser available on Windows that doesn’t work on Chromium remains Firefox. However, Mozilla has not yet decided when it will stop supporting Windows 7 and 8. The company has so far only announced that starting with Firefox 100, the browser requires a unique security patch to work on Windows 7.
