Mozilla has again extended Firefox ESR 115 support, giving older systems more time before losing updates. The Extended Support Release, first launched in July 2023, was meant to retire in September 2024. After several extensions, it will now remain active until March 2026 for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and macOS 10.12 to 10.14. Mozilla will review the deadline in February 2026 before making its final decision.
This marks the third extension for ESR 115. When Firefox ESR 128 became the main branch in September 2024, Mozilla promised to support 115 until April 2025. That date moved to September 2025. The latest update on Mozilla’s release calendar now pushes the end date to March 2026, showing strong demand from users who cannot upgrade.
The move is backed by Firefox usage data. Windows 11 leads with 39.35 percent, while Windows 10 sits at 38.92 percent. However, nearly 7 percent of Firefox users still rely on Windows 7. Linux and macOS users account for about 15 percent combined. With millions on outdated systems, Mozilla is under pressure to maintain ESR 115.
Mozilla urges users on modern platforms to switch to ESR 128 or higher. The newer builds bring better performance, full security patches, and updated web standards. For those stuck on older hardware, staying on Windows 7 or early macOS versions remains a serious risk. These systems no longer receive security fixes, making them more vulnerable to malware and attacks.
Users unable to upgrade may want to try Linux. Distros such as Linux Mint can run on older machines and still receive security updates. While the switch from Windows or macOS requires adjustment, it offers a safer long-term option than running unsupported systems.
The continued extension of Firefox ESR 115 support shows Mozilla’s balancing act. It must protect users who remain on older systems, yet also push adoption of secure, modern platforms.
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