Firefox to Cease Security Updates for Legacy Windows in 2026.

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Firefox to Cease Security Updates for Legacy Windows in 2026.
Mozilla to End Firefox Support for Windows 7 and 8.1 in February 2026

Mozilla has officially announced the final curtain call for Firefox support on legacy operating systems, specifically Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. This decision comes years after Microsoft themselves terminated mainstream support for these platforms in 2020, followed by the conclusion of paid extended security updates in early 2023.

The End of the ESR Lifeline

For the past few years, Firefox users on these older systems have been locked into Version 115. However, because this version was part of the Extended Support Release (ESR) cycle, Mozilla continued to provide vital security patches to protect users from emerging threats.

This lifeline is now reaching its end. Mozilla confirmed that the final security patches for these versions will be dispatched by the end of February 2026. After this date, the browser will no longer receive updates, leaving users vulnerable to security exploits.

The Last Major Browser to Exit

Firefox was notably one of the last major browsers to maintain support for these legacy Windows versions. In contrast, Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers synchronized their support termination with Microsoft’s official schedule.

For users currently on Windows 10, Mozilla has stated that support will continue for the foreseeable future, with no immediate plans for retirement announced.

  • The end of support in 2026 will pose a significant risk, as new vulnerabilities (zero-day exploits) will not be patched. If machines running Windows 7/8.1 remain connected to the internet, they will become prime targets for malware and ransomware.
  • One reason this user group still exists is hardware limitations that prevent them from upgrading to Windows 11 (due to TPM 2.0 requirements). The end of Firefox support therefore signals a forced need for users to eventually replace their computers.
  • Beyond security concerns, current web technologies (such as WebAssembly or new CSS features) may not function properly on older browser versions, resulting in lag or distorted display when accessing modern websites or online applications.
  • Data from StatCounter indicates that, despite its age, Windows 7 still holds a small market share in niche organizations and educational institutions. Mozilla's move thus officially marks the end of the "Legacy Browsing" era. 

 

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Source: Mozilla 

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