Mozilla has set a final date for ending Firefox support on older versions of Windows, closing a chapter that stretches all the way back to the Windows 7 era. Starting with Firefox version 115’s Extended Support Release (ESR), the browser will no longer support Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 beyond February 2026.
Version 115 ESR has served as the last refuge for users on legacy Microsoft operating systems. While mainstream Firefox has long moved ahead—currently reaching version 147—the ESR track allowed older systems to continue receiving critical security updates without major feature changes. Mozilla previously extended support for these systems more than once, but has now confirmed that security patches for the 115 ESR branch will stop at the end of February 2026.
Firefox’s prolonged support for Windows 7 and its successors has outlasted many other major browsers, most of which dropped official compatibility years ago. The ESR program is typically aimed at enterprise users who need stability and slower update cycles, but it has also been a lifeline for individuals running aging hardware and software.
With the final deadline approaching, Mozilla recommends upgrading to a newer operating system such as Windows 10 or Windows 11, or moving to a Linux distribution where Firefox remains widely supported and often preinstalled. Once support ends, users on older Windows versions will no longer receive security updates, leaving their browsing environments increasingly vulnerable over time.
For long-time Windows 7 users, the end of Firefox support marks another milestone in the gradual retirement of an operating system that first launched in 2009 and remained popular for more than a decade.