Why has FireFox ceased support for Windows 7?
I have been a user of FireFox for over 20 years. This morning when it updated, I got the message that this is the last update I'll receive as support for Windows 7 has ceased.
There is nothing wrong with my laptop, it works 100%, fulfills all my needs, yet you seem to want me to toss it in the bin and buy something I do NOT want! I have no interest in obtaining a new OS, I have used windows since 3.1, enough is enough. I have no desire to 'learn' another OS, the one I have is just perfect for me.
How 'green' is it making something that works perfectly, obsolete, just because it is a mature OS?
Not all of us need a cutting edge, super dooper hyper bells & website system. I'm quite happy using FireFox to access the odd email, do a bit of general surfing, and a bit of online shopping.
Why is it so difficult to keep FireFox in use for Windows 7?
All Replies (5)
Stephen5000 said
I got the message that this is the last update I'll receive as support for Windows 7 has ceased.
This is not exactly true. 115 is the last big release, but you'll be receiving updates up to September 2024.
Why is it so difficult to keep FireFox in use for Windows 7?
Microsoft ended official support for Windows 7 in January 2023. With no official support from Microsoft, maintaining Firefox for obsolete operating systems becomes costly for Mozilla.
If you can use OS without security updates, you can also use a browser in version 115 ESR for the rest of days of this machine.
TyDraniu said
Stephen5000 said
I got the message that this is the last update I'll receive as support for Windows 7 has ceased.This is not exactly true. 115 is the last big release, but you'll be receiving updates up to September 2024.
Why is it so difficult to keep FireFox in use for Windows 7?Microsoft ended official support for Windows 7 in January 2023. With no official support from Microsoft, maintaining Firefox for obsolete operating systems becomes costly for Mozilla.
If you can use OS without security updates, you can also use a browser in version 115 ESR for the rest of days of this machine.
Crikey, a 'help' forum that actually helped! That's great news that I'll get another years support, thank you for that info.
I already have major issues with MS in the way they abandon software which works just fine, but they need to constantly seek new profit centers. In the same way that I drive a 20+ year old car, but I can still get parts for it. I don't throw it in the bin because it's old - I wish MS had the same ethos...
Chrome (and Chromium) already dropped support for the old old End Of Life (EOL) Windows 7, 8, 8.1 as of Chrome 109 released back in January https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7100626?hl=en as Chrome 110 only supports Windows 10 and later.
Mozilla on the other hand will be supporting the old EOL Windows 7, 8, 8.1 with Firefox 115.0 ESR (Extended Support Release) for a good while still as 115.7.0 ESR for example is scheduled in Jan 23, 2024 and will likely go to 115.15.0 ESR as 102.15.0 will be the last version for the 102 ESR. Normally ESR is meant for Enterprise users in mind however with the EOL Windows as in past this has allowed users to still have Firefox with security fixes for a good while still.
For example Mozilla supported the then old EOL Windows XP and Vista for over two years longer (with Fx 52 ESR) compared to Chrome, Chromium, Opera, Edge, etc yet people were still not happy with Mozilla not supporting even longer.
Besides using Windows 10 (hardware may likely not work with 11 even though it is based on NT 10 kernel) you could try dual booting with a light Linux distro with a window manager like XFCE. This way you can use current Firefox Releases on your old hardware for a long while still as you have a 64-bit CPU. Just something to consider at some point.
Okulungisiwe ngu James
Note that MS will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025, so even that is not too far in the future.
I have Windows 10 and today it dissappeared twice and up came my aol account what is going on here ... This can drive a person to the end ...