If you are using Firefox on Windows 7 or 8.1, you need to know that Mozilla will still support this browser for more than a year.
According to Tech Unwrapped, while Microsoft has ended its life of supporting the two operating systems as a way to entice users to switch to newer Windows 10 or 11, Mozilla is still supporting Firefox to work with Windows 7 and 8.1. until September 2024. This is part of Mozilla’s effort to expand the browser’s support on older operating systems, despite rival Google Chrome has stopped supporting it
Mozilla’s continued support could be for one or two reasons. The first is aimed at extending the life of computers that can’t be upgraded to Windows 10 or 11. Second, stick with users with versions of Windows that are no longer supported by Chrome or Microsoft, and once established into the habit of using Firefox as their primary web browser, they are willing to continue with it when they switch to more modern Windows.
This means Firefox users on Windows 7 or 8.1 will continue to receive security updates from Mozilla to enhance protection. However, when the time of September 2024 arrives, users should be advised to switch to newer operating system platforms to be truly safe.
Also in the support document published by Mozilla, the last regular version to support Windows 7 or 8.1 will be Firefox 115 (current version is 113.0.2), with an expected release date of 4.7.2023. Once that time comes, these users will be automatically switched to Firefox’s ESR channel, which is known as an extended support release, thereby helping them receive security updates released. Mozilla until September next year