Mozilla's Firefox browser will cease support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 after February 2026. Users on these systems must upgrade to Windows 10 or later to continue receiving security updates. As an alternative, Mozilla suggests switching to a Linux-based operating system.
Mozilla has announced that Firefox version 115 marks the last release supporting Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Updates through the Extended Support Release (ESR) channel will continue until the end of February 2026, after which no further security or feature updates will be provided for these operating systems.
This decision follows Microsoft's discontinuation of security updates for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 in January 2023. Despite this, Firefox had maintained compatibility for an additional period. Mozilla states that continuing support has become "costly for Mozilla and risky for users," as the lack of underlying OS security exposes browsers to vulnerabilities.
At the time of the announcement, Firefox's latest version was 147, with version 115 having been released in July 2023. Users unable to upgrade their hardware to run Windows 10 or 11—due to limitations in older systems—face a choice: switch browsers or operating systems. However, popular alternatives like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have already ended support for these Windows versions, making a full OS upgrade necessary for secure browsing.
Mozilla recommends transitioning to Linux, where Firefox serves as the default browser in many distributions. The browser's open-source nature aligns well with Linux ecosystems, and it is noted for lower RAM usage compared to Chromium-based options like Chrome.
This move underscores the ongoing shift away from legacy software, urging users with outdated setups to modernize for continued safety online.
