Google to end support for Windows 7 and 8.1 next year

Search engine giant Google has announced that it will end support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 early next year, with a new Chrome version.

The tech giant will officially stop support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 on February 7, 2023, when Chrome 110 is expected to be released, the company said in a support page.

Chrome will still work after version 110, but it won’t get any future updates on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, according to the support page. So if you’re still on a system running one of those older operating systems, we strongly suggest upgrading as soon as you can. That way, you’ll be able to receive security updates for your operating system and take advantage of the latest Chrome features and security improvements as well, the company said.

Aside from this, Google earlier this month announced to roll out support for passkeys later this year along with an API for native Android apps releasing 2022. It also announced a bunch of new features to the Play Store for better listing of apps next year. The company showcased the upcoming changes at its annual developer conference I/O earlier this year. The API of the apps will allow users to choose if they want to a passkey or a saved password while logging in.

According to Google, “Passkeys are a significantly safer replacement for passwords and other phishable authentication factors. They cannot be reused, don’t leak in server breaches and protect users from phishing attacks.”