Windows 7 and Windows 8 Are Losing Their Last Web Browser
•February 19, 2026
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Why It Matters
The loss of any maintained browser on unsupported Windows versions exposes remaining users to heightened security risks and accelerates the need for OS migration or alternative platforms.
Key Takeaways
- •Firefox ESR for Win7/8 ends March 2026.
- •No major browsers receive security patches on Win7/8.
- •Windows 7 usage fell to ~1% of PCs.
- •Legacy PCs may switch to Linux, but 32‑bit support dwindling.
- •Users face increased vulnerability without OS updates.
Pulse Analysis
The retirement of Firefox support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 marks the final chapter in a decade‑long effort to keep legacy systems viable. While Mozilla’s Extended Support Release kept these machines safe longer than most, the decision reflects the economic reality of maintaining code for dwindling user bases. Without security updates, any browser on these operating systems becomes a soft target for exploits, especially as cyber‑criminals increasingly weaponize unpatched software. This development underscores the broader principle that an operating system’s lifecycle is inseparable from the health of its application ecosystem.
Enterprises and small businesses that still run legacy Windows installations now face a stark choice. Continuing to use outdated browsers risks data breaches, compliance violations, and operational downtime. Migration paths include upgrading to Windows 10/11, which restores access to modern browsers, or transitioning to Linux distributions that still support 32‑bit hardware, albeit with shrinking vendor support. For organizations with entrenched hardware, virtualization or containerized browsers can provide a temporary bridge, but these solutions add complexity and cost.
The broader browser market also feels the ripple effects. As the last mainstream Windows 7/8‑compatible browser disappears, niche projects like Supermium or Pale Moon may see a modest surge, yet they cannot match the security cadence of Chrome or Firefox. This vacuum reinforces the industry’s push toward unified, up‑to‑date platforms, encouraging users to adopt newer operating systems or cloud‑based browsing alternatives. Ultimately, the end of support serves as a reminder that maintaining digital hygiene requires regular updates, and clinging to obsolete software invites unnecessary risk.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 are losing their last web browser
Published Feb 19, 2026, 12:04 PM EST
Credit: Microsoft
Most desktop software and web browsers have left Windows 7 and Windows 8 in the past, but Firefox still got security updates on those versions. That’s now changing, as Mozilla is ending all support for versions before Windows 10.
Microsoft stopped delivering security updates to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 in January 2023, and most of the remaining desktop web browsers dropped those versions around the same time, including Google Chrome, Vivaldi, and Microsoft Edge. The only remaining option for a safe and secure browser was Firefox, as well as some projects based on Firefox.
Mozilla released Firefox 115 in July 2023 as the final major version for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, and it continued to receive security patches in the Extended Release Channel (ESR). However, those fixes are about to end at the beginning of March 2026.
“Unsupported operating systems receive no security updates and have known vulnerabilities. Without official support from Microsoft, maintaining Firefox for outdated operating systems becomes costly for Mozilla and risky for users.”
This leaves Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 without any options for a (relatively) safe and secure web browser. The Chromium spinoff project Supermium is still available for Windows XP and newer versions, but it isn’t getting security patches as frequently as the standard versions of Chrome or Firefox. Pale Moon and other Firefox forks will likely stick around as well, with the same drawbacks. Early ARM Windows 8 tablets, like the original Microsoft Surface, never received Firefox or other third‑party web browsers.
The good news is that there aren’t many PCs still running Windows 7 and 8. When Microsoft ended support in early 2023, around 9.5 % of all Windows computers were on Windows 7, with Windows 8.1 at 2.2 % and Windows 8.0 under 1 % usage. Now, Windows 7 represents around 1 % of all Windows computers, with Windows 8 and 8.1 each at less than 1 % usage.
Credit: StatCounter
Many PCs designed for Windows 7 and 8 can still run various desktop Linux distributions, which have modern versions of Chrome, Firefox, and other web browsers. However, there are fewer options for PCs with 32‑bit x86 processors, especially now that Debian and all Debian‑based distributions dropped that architecture.
It’s great that Mozilla could keep those old PCs safe and functional for a while longer, but all good things must come to an end. You definitely should not be using a Windows 7 or 8 PC for general web browsing in 2026 and beyond.
Sources: Mozilla (via PC Gamer), StatCounter.
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