Mozilla has made a noteworthy decision for users of Firefox ESR 115, particularly those operating on older systems. The company has announced an extension of support for this version until March 2026, providing a lifeline for many who are still navigating the digital landscape with legacy operating systems.
Details of the Extension
Initially launched in July 2023, Firefox 115.0 ESR was set to be the final version supporting Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, as well as macOS versions 10.12, 10.13, and 10.14. The original plan was to maintain support until September 2024. However, as time progressed, Mozilla made several adjustments to this timeline:
- In September 2024, Firefox ESR 128 was slated to replace 115 as the new code base for current operating systems.
- Support for Firefox ESR 115 was extended to April 1, 2025, for users on the aforementioned operating systems.
- In February 2025, this support was further prolonged until September 2025.
- Most recently, Reddit users noted a new entry on Firefox’s release calendar indicating that support for Firefox ESR 115 would now continue until March 2026.
This ongoing support will be reassessed in February 2026, when Mozilla will determine the future of Firefox 115 ESR.
Understanding the Rationale
The question arises: why does Mozilla continue to extend support for these older operating systems? According to the latest Firefox Public Data Report, a significant portion of users remains on outdated platforms. The statistics reveal that:
- 39.352% of Firefox users are on Windows 11.
- 38.926% are utilizing Windows 10.
- 6.769% are still operating on Windows 7.
- All other operating systems, including Linux and macOS, account for 14.952% of Firefox users.
This data likely explains Mozilla’s decision to keep Windows 7 supported, along with its successors, Windows 8 and 8.1.
Recommendations for Users
While Mozilla encourages users on supported operating systems to upgrade to Firefox ESR 128 or later, it also advises against using outdated systems that no longer receive security updates. For those unable to transition to newer operating systems due to hardware constraints, exploring alternatives like Linux distributions, such as Mint, could be a viable solution. Although there may be an adjustment period when switching from Windows or macOS, many older computers can run Linux effectively, providing a safer and more modern browsing experience.
