Mozilla keeps Firefox alive on legacy Windows versions with extended support

[Shawn Knight]

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 Still, the clock is ticking and if you're using an outdated version of Windows, it's time to update.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

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Mozilla keeps Firefox alive on legacy Windows versions with extended support

 

[Win7user]

I love Firefox! I'm still using Windows 7 Pro, on my Acer I-3 laptop, with the Firefox browser! I do have a two-year-old HP desktop running Windows 11 Pro. But, I much prefer Win 7 hands down! Been using the Firefox browser for 10 years anyway! For me, there is just no comparison. I've tried at least 7 or 8 different Browsers, and none of them come close to Firefox!

Long live the Firefox browser on Windows 7 machines...

 

[Tekpot]

Firefox+Windows XP = Eternal Love

 

[Dimitrios]

The first time I ever used Firefox was when I was a little kid, I used to get those pc magazines like MAXIMUM PC. I saw it on the CD and since installing it I have used it ever since.

 

[Starfals]

Firefox ftw. I still use it and I dont see a reason to stop anytime soon!

 

[ZedRM]

I think this kicks butt.

 

[Win7user]

Firefox+Windows XP = Eternal Love

I went right from Win 98E to Win 7, never used XP. Heard it was very good though.

 

[captaincranky]

As long as Firefox will still launch and get me on the web, I simply don't care if they stop updating it, and Windows 7 is staying right along with it.

The only drawback is that you'd have to clone your C;/ drive periodically, as the FF installer is only a stub, and more than likely, Mozilla won't cough up the full program package after support ends.

Riddle: How can you tell who's still using Windows 7?

Answer: those are the people who are still happy wiiith their computers .

 

[captaincranky]

I went right from Win 98E to Win 7, never used XP. Heard it was very good though.

Windows XP was foolproof. Windows 7 is somewhere between nitwit and imbecile proof.

I had a relic machine, (Intel G-41 Pentium E2200). I installed Mint Linux. The machine would let you do so much, then give a complete freeze, forcing a hard, hold the power button down shutdown. A few of these eviscerated Mint, leaving it running lines of confused code.
Windows 7 in the same machine and conditions, suffered the same crash. Only on the reboot, it gave a black screen asking, "start Windows normally"? I would just hit "enter", and it would finish booting like nothing ever happened.

So, Windows 7 to one degree or another, is self repairing, XP wasn't.

Because you missed XP, you also missed the malware magnet that was IE-6.

In the decade plus I've used 7, I can honestly say I can't remember it ever throwing up a blue screen.

Hell, if you yank the power cord out, on reboot it will startup with a "resuming Windows" message, and you're right back where you were.

 

[ZedRM]

Windows XP was foolproof.

Oh no it wasn't! Not even close.

Windows 7 is somewhere between nitwit and imbecile proof.

Again, no.

 

[captaincranky]

Oh no it wasn't! Not even close.

Again, no.

Well, I had XP through SP-3. Blue screens were rare to nonexistent. Updates never bricked it. It's primary weak link was IE-6. Firefox solved that.
Currently Windows 7 is running just fine on the 3 machines I'm currently using, and has been for at least the last decade..

So, if you're saying I must not be a fool, a nitwit, or an imbecile, thanks for the vote of confidence.

In the meantime, "ease up", preferably someplace else.

 

[ZedRM]

Well, I had XP through SP-3.

OK.

Blue screens were rare to nonexistent. Updates never bricked it. It's primary weak link was IE-6. Firefox solved that.

You said something about XP being fool-proof, you did not mention stability. Those are two very different ideas.

Currently Windows 7 is running just fine on the 3 machines I'm currently using, and has been for at least the last decade..

I believe you.

So, if you're saying I must not be a fool, a nitwit, or an imbecile, thanks for the vote of confidence.

I would never presume such a liberty.

In the meantime, "ease up", preferably someplace else.

Oooo witty.

 

[captaincranky]

You said something about XP being fool-proof, you did not mention stability. Those are two very different ideas.

If we compare XP to alternatives of the period, (primarily Linux), at the very least it's fair to call XP, "reasonably novice user proof". If the AV programs of the day, like Norton, didn't whiff at the slightest hint of malware, "foolproof" might have actually been within reach.

Wut, it's only clever when you spout platitudes like "ease up"?

And so must end, another trivial, yet annoying, voyage into your most recent preoccupation with the semantics of my posts.

 

[Win7user]

As long as Firefox will still launch and get me on the web, I simply don't care if they stop updating it, and Windows 7 is staying right along with it.

The only drawback is that you'd have to clone your C;/ drive periodically, as the FF installer is only a stub, and more than likely, Mozilla won't cough up the full program package after support ends.

Riddle: How can you tell who's still using Windows 7?

Answer: those are the people who are still happy wiiith their computers .

Amen! Windows 7 Pro is such a clean, easy to operate interface. I'm going to keep using Win 7 until it no longer works. I also have a two-year-old HP desktop with Win 11 Pro installed.

I use True Image, 2013, to back up my C drive every 24hrs, and of course delete older backups. And it's very easy to save the profile folder every week, in a portable edition of FF.

Win 98SE, XP, and Win 7 are all great operating systems!

 

[Hotlynx16]

No windows 7 machines anymore but I have a 2011 socket 775 running Windows 10 with 16GB memory and a RX480 vid card! Running Firefox on all. Started out with Netscape in 1998 and Firefox was almost identical without the email program!

 

[Win7user]

No windows 7 machines anymore but I have a 2011 socket 775 running Windows 10 with 16GB memory and a RX480 vid card! Running Firefox on all. Started out with Netscape in 1998 and Firefox was almost identical without the email program!

1998 was the year a friend of mine, built me my first computer, an Acer desktop I was using Netscape for a browser. I think the hard drive was 16mb in size. Wow, good memories for me.