Microsoft Edge 109 and Google Chrome 110 will continue to work on legacy operating systems, but they will no longer receive security updates and bug fixes, exposing their users to security risks. This version of Microsoft Edge will also be the last to support Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2.Ī similar announcement was made by Google in October when the company said that version 110 of its Google Chrome web browser would also likely drop support for Windows 7 and 8.1 starting in February 2023. Next week, Redmond will also release Microsoft Edge 109, the web browser's last version to come with support for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. Microsoft Windows market share (Statcounter GlobalStats) Web browsers also dropping support for Windows 7 Microsoft recommends customers with devices that don't meet the technical requirements for a more recent Windows release to replace them with ones that support Windows 11 to take advantage of the latest hardware capabilities.Ĭurrently, Windows 7 runs on over 11% of all Windows systems worldwide, while Windows 8.1 is used by 2.59% of Microsoft customers, according to Statcounter GlobalStats. 'Before investing in a Windows 10 upgrade, please consider that Windows 10 will reach its end of support date on October 14, 2025.' 'Most Windows 7 devices will not meet the hardware requirements for upgrading to Windows 11, as an alternative, compatible Windows 7 PCs can be upgraded to Windows 10 by purchasing and installing a full version of the software,' Microsoft explains.

The Extended Security Update (ESU) program was the last resort option for customers who still needed to run legacy Microsoft products past their end of support on Windows 7 systems.Īll editions of Windows 8.1, launched nine years ago in November 2013, will also reach EOS on the same day. It then reached its end of support in January 2015 and its extended end of support in January 2020. Microsoft launched the legacy operating system in October 2009. Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise editions will no longer receive extended security updates for critical and important vulnerabilities starting Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

Windows 7 to 10 free upgrade