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Bottom line: Firefox users on older operating systems will have a bit more time with the browser thanks to Mozilla's recent decision to extend support for about six more months. Still, the clock is ticking and if you're using an outdated version of Windows, it's time to update.
According to the official Firefox release calendar, the extended support release version of the Firefox web browser will continue to receive updates through at least March 4, 2025. Firefox 115 ESR was originally expected to end support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.x this month.
In a recent post on Reddit, a Mozilla employee said there are still enough users on these operating systems to justify the decision… at least, for now.
According to the latest data from StatCounter, just 3.03 percent of desktops running Windows are still on Windows 7 and only 0.41 percent are running Windows 8.1. It is a bit interesting that Mozilla still deems these operating systems as worth supporting, but here we are.
Most other major browser makers ended support for older Windows operating systems long ago. Microsoft announced in late 2022 that it would be dropping support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 in Edge on January 12, 2023. Google joined shortly after, ditching updates to support Windows 7 in Chrome on February 7, 2023.
Several other companies and apps have also ended support for Windows 8 and / or Windows 7 over the past several months including Valve's Steam, Nvidia GPU drivers, and the Rufus USB flash drive utility, just to name a few.
Those looking to upgrade to a newer version of Windows can grab a license over on the TechSpot Store. Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home can be had for just $30, or you can grab a Windows 11 Pro or Windows 10 Pro key for only $20. It is a heck of a deal, and one that I took advantage of when building my latest PC.
Image credit: Rubaitul Azad, Fuu J