Support for Google Chrome for Windows 7, 8.1 will end next year • The Register

Google has joined the funeral procession for Windows 7 and 8.1, announcing that the latest Chrome update for older operating systems will come in early February.

The end of Chrome support on Windows 7 and 8.1 is Tentatively planned for February 7 Coupled with the release of Chrome 110, which brings Google in line with Microsoft’s plans Jan 10 end date To support older versions. Going forward, Google said, users really need to be running a supported operating system.

“If you’re currently using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, we encourage you to move to a supported version of Windows before that date to ensure you continue to receive the latest security updates and Chrome features,” Google said.

Microsoft echoed that language when announcing the end of Windows 7 and 8.1: “Remember that use of unsupported software may increase an organization’s exposure to security risks or affect its ability to meet compliance obligations.”

as such Reg Readers know Chrome will still work on Windows 7 and 8.1 after support ends, but the browser won’t get any additional updates — including security patches.

Speaking of unsupported…

The numbers vary slightly depending on who you ask, but it is generally believed About 70 percent of PCs running Windows 10. That’s fine in theory, but the news about Windows 11 isn’t great. It recently overtook Windows 7 in the PC operating system market share, reaching 13.5 percent versus 10.7 percent in Windows 7.

Windows 11 adoption It was icy slowAnd for good reason: About 40 percent of Windows devices are unable to upgrade due to cumbersome issues. But it seems arbitraryMicrosoft has set hardware requirements on the operating system.

This wouldn’t be a problem if Windows 10 were too long for this world, but it isn’t. According to Microsoft, “it will continue to support at least one version of Windows 10 until October 14, 2025.” After this point, Win10’s future is unclear, with only three years left.

Then again, if you’re using Windows 7, let’s remember that it entered the market in it October 2009 And it was officially exited in early 2020. While Windows 8 launched in 2012 and its successor, 8.1, will stop receiving support in January of 2023, Windows 10 will simply do the same, having appeared in 2015 and with plans to exit 2025.

Whether or not 2025 devices are ready for mass migration to Windows 11, remains to be seen. ®