Toni Dimaano Tech 10.24.2022 23:Oct PM EDT

Google Announces Chrome Will Drop Support for Windows 7, 8.1 Next Year

Google will no longer run the latest version of Google Chrome for Windows 7 and 8.1 starting February 2023, Microsoft says.

According to Bleeping Computer, the company is discontinuing the final version of Chrome for these two versions, forcing users to operate their devices on at least Windows 10.

Microsoft Is Officially Ending Support For Older Operating Systems

Since 2020, Chrome has been threatening old Windows users about dropping its mainstream support for Windows 7 and 8.1 due to compatibility issues.

Because of this, older version users might miss out on the latest critical security and utility enhancements from Chrome 110 when it gets released on February 7, Android Police says.

Google's decision to discontinue support for these versions of Windows goes with Microsoft's lifestyle policy in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program.

Thurott writes that after three years of support for the ESU program, it is ending on January 10 for paying enterprise customers, the same day that Windows 8.1 support will also end in 2023.

However, Google says that the older versions of Google Chrome will continue to work on Windows 7 and 8.1, but the company firmly encourages users to move to newer versions.

Google adds that having Windows 10 and 11 will let customers take advantage of the latest features and security improvements for Google Chrome, The Verge reports.

Google's Decision To Cut Support For Old Windows Is Forcing Users To Upgrade

With the decision to drop support for Chrome on Windows 7 and 8.1, Google is seemingly forcing customers to do system upgrades to ensure their devices' optimum functioning.

According to Tech Update, those users who do not want to update their older versions of Windows will have to either move to the latest Windows or face the threats of malware.

Google says that since Windows 7 and 8.1 will not get the latest security enhancements from Chrome, users who use these versions might risk using programs with flaws.

These programs are often exploited by criminals to steal users' data and infect their devices with malware if they do not choose a browser that is safe.

Tech Update writes that while Windows 11 might not be the best choice to install on older machines, Windows 10 will still run smoothly on low-end PCs if users want to use Chrome 110.

Among all the Windows versions, Windows 8.1 and 7 are third and fourth in the market when it comes to the number of total users with 2.97% and 11.06% of the market, respectively.

Windows has been dominating the PC and desktop markets for the past 30 years, with a 74.73% hold over market shares, which is way ahead of the competition.

Meanwhile, Google Chrome has established itself as one of the greatest web browsers in cross-platforms and all other operating systems aside from Windows, Beta News says.

Furthermore, Google Chrome has a market share of over 65%, followed by Safari with roughly 18% and Microsoft Edge with 4.32%, making it the leading web browser globally.