Mozilla has announced that Firefox version 115 will be the last supported release for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. This change will take effect by the end of February 2024, marking the end of Extended Support Release (ESR) updates for these operating systems.
End of Support Details
Mozilla has been providing ESR updates for critical security fixes, but these will cease, leaving Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users without security updates. The company strongly encourages users to upgrade to a supported version of Microsoft Windows.
Alternative Options for Users
For those whose hardware cannot support Windows 10 or higher, Mozilla suggests switching to a Linux-based operating system. Most Linux distributions come with Firefox pre-installed, offering a viable alternative for continued browser support.
Industry Context
Mozilla's decision follows similar moves by other major browsers like Chrome and Edge, which have already ended support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Firefox will continue to support Windows 10 and newer versions for the foreseeable future.
