Microsoft Edge Browser: The Last Stand for Windows 7 and 8.1 Users

As Microsoft continues to move forward with its browser development, users of Windows 7 and 8.1 are facing a daunting reality - the end of support for their browsers. Not all browser makers have revealed their plans regarding the end of support for their browsers on these older operating systems, but Microsoft has been clear about its intentions.

Older versions of Microsoft Edge will continue to work on Windows 7 and 8.1 devices, but they will become less secure and likely less stable with every new release of the browser. This means that users who run Microsoft Edge on these devices won't be able to upgrade to the latest version when it's released.

Google has already started displaying notifications in Chrome for Windows 7 and 8.1 devices, suggesting an upgrade to Windows 10 or newer. This is because Chromium support ends in January 2023, and so will support for Google Chrome on these operating systems.

The first Patch Tuesday of the year 2023 is also the last for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Windows 7 and 8.1 will reach end of support on January 10, 2023, which means that users who continue to run these operating systems after this date will no longer receive security updates.

Microsoft has followed Google's end of support timeline for the operating systems, and it makes sense given its new philosophy of embracing open source. Starting with Chromium 110, Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will no longer be supported, according to Microsoft's release notes.

While there has been speculation about the browser coming to Linux, Microsoft has announced plans to introduce an in-browser dark mode for Windows 7 and 8.1 users, so they won't be left out in the cold - although they may be left in the dark.

The Chromium-based Edge landing on Windows 7/8.1 represents the final piece of the puzzle in terms of the initial platforms Microsoft promised to make the browser available on. Microsoft assures users that they will find the experience and feature set on previous versions of Windows to be largely the same as on Windows 10, including forthcoming support for Internet Explorer mode for enterprise customers.

As with preview versions of software, there are some known issues, such as no support for dark mode because it's an OS system-wide setting on Windows 10 and macOS, with no equivalent in older versions of Windows. However, by all accounts, Chromium-based Edge works pretty much identically to the Windows 10 incarnation, which is good news.

In conclusion, while Microsoft Edge may not be the most exciting browser out there, it's still a reliable choice for users who need to stick with their older operating systems. Just keep in mind that you'll no longer receive security updates or support after January 10, 2023, and plan accordingly.

Microsoft edge browserwindows 8.1