Extended Firefox Support for Legacy Windows Systems Extended Until August 2025
Background:
In September 2023, Mozilla announced that it would continue supporting Firefox on older Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, until March 2024. This extended support was initially intended to provide users with additional time to transition to newer versions of Windows or other operating systems.
Update on Support Timeline:
Recently, Mozilla updated its release calendar to extend the end-of-support date for Firefox Old ESR (Extended Support Release) by an additional six months. This means that Firefox Old ESR will continue to receive updates and support until at least August 19, 2025.
Official Discontinuation of Support:
As per the updated release calendar, official support for Firefox on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will end in September 2025. However, Mozilla has stated that it will re-evaluate this decision in August 2025 and announce any changes to the end-of-support date.
Extended Support Limitations:
It is important to note that extended support only applies to specific versions of Firefox:
- Firefox 115 (Old ESR)
- Firefox 128 (ESR)
Both of these branches will be deprecated on September 16, 2025. After this date, users will need to upgrade to a newer version of Firefox or switch to a newer version of Windows.
Additional Information:
- Mozilla recommends that users transition to a newer version of Windows and switch to Firefox 140 ESR as soon as possible to ensure optimal security and performance.
- Firefox 140 ESR is the latest ESR version of Firefox and will receive security updates for an extended period.
- Users who continue to use Firefox on older Windows systems after September 2025 may experience reduced functionality, security vulnerabilities, and technical issues.
Conclusion:
Mozilla’s decision to extend support for Firefox on older Windows systems until August 2025 provides users with additional time to transition to newer operating systems and Firefox versions. However, it is recommended to make the switch as soon as possible to ensure the best possible browsing experience and security.
