Thunderbird's Shift in Support Strategy
In a significant move, the Thunderbird development team is embarking on an ambitious journey to revitalize the classic mail program for PC users. However, this endeavor comes with a notable caveat: support for older operating systems will be phased out in the upcoming major release. This decision, articulated by Thunderbird’s engineering director, Andrei Hajdukewycz, marks a departure from the approach taken by its sibling product, Firefox.
Mozilla recently announced that its latest “Extended Support Release” of Firefox (version 115 ESR) will continue to receive security updates for Windows 7 and 8 for an additional six months. In contrast, Hajdukewycz has made it clear that Thunderbird will not follow suit. “We will not be extending support of Thunderbird 115 in the same way,” he stated, confirming that the last version compatible with Windows 7/8 and macOS 10.12-10.14 will be 115.15.x. While there may be a minor update following this release, no further support is planned.
Rationale Behind the Decision
The rationale behind this decision is rooted in three key factors:
- Smaller User Base: The user base for Thunderbird on Windows 7 and 8 is considerably smaller, accounting for approximately six percent of users, compared to 11 percent for Firefox.
- Limited Resources: The Thunderbird development team operates with limited resources, which are already stretched thin. Hajdukewycz emphasized that diverting attention to support older platforms could hinder the team’s ability to focus on essential tasks, such as the timely release of the project’s main updates.
- Security Concerns: Hajdukewycz is encouraging users to acknowledge the necessity of updating their operating systems—and potentially their hardware—as a crucial step toward maintaining a secure computing environment.
While the last 115 ESR release of Thunderbird will remain accessible for download via Mozilla servers for the time being, there is a possibility that this option may be withdrawn if the software becomes unsafe for use.
Looking Ahead
Despite this impending change, it is anticipated that Thunderbird 115, along with earlier versions, will continue to operate smoothly on Windows 7 for the foreseeable future. As a testament to the program’s longevity, some users still rely on much older versions, such as Thunderbird 3.1.9, released in 2011, although an upgrade is strongly advised.
Currently, Thunderbird is under the stewardship of MZLA Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary established by Mozilla in 2020, aimed at re-entering the email client arena. The MZLA team is dedicated to a comprehensive overhaul of the software, incorporating a fresh interface and enhanced support for contemporary email functionalities.
