In a world that rarely looks back, some PC users found comfort in the steady familiarity of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Now, as time moves on, one of their last connections to the modern internet is slipping away.
Mozilla has confirmed it will soon end support for Firefox on Windows 7 and Windows 8. The browser had been the last major mainstream option still compatible with the aging operating system, serving as an essential link to the web for a small but loyal group of users.
An updated support article from Mozilla states that Firefox 115 will mark the end of support for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. Ongoing maintenance will be handled through the Extended Support Release (ESR) channel, which prioritizes long-term stability and security updates for organizations with limited upgrade cycles.
Support for Firefox 115 ESR is set to continue until the end of February 2026. Although the foundation initially planned to wrap up support in September 2024, it extended the deadline to help users transition. A further extension was announced in September 2025, but Mozilla has confirmed that updates will cease after February 2026.
With support ending soon, Mozilla is advising users to transition to a newer Windows release, such as Windows 10, despite the end of mainstream consumer support from Microsoft, or Windows 11. For systems that cannot run Windows 11, the foundation recommends exploring Linux distributions, many of which ship with Firefox by default.
Mozilla is also warning against the false hope of simply switching to another browser. Neither Google Chrome nor Microsoft Edge supports Windows 7 or Windows 8.x anymore. Users who attempt to run these outdated browsers on an unsupported OS will be left without critical security protections.
This final cutoff really marks the end of the road for an OS that launched in a totally different tech world. Windows 7 first hit manufacturing on July 22, 2009, which is 16 years ago. Microsoft wrapped up its paid extended support on January 10, 2023, and most big software companies followed not long after.
Data from StatCounter suggests Windows 7 now makes up only about one percent of Windows users worldwide. A lot of them are probably still using Firefox to get online. The old system still has its fans, especially gamers who don’t want to give it up. Some are working to keep Steam running, and people on the GOG forums even track which newer games still work. But after February 2026, just browsing the web could become a problem.
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