Google Chrome users using the web browser on Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2 devices receive a notification at the top of the browser screen informing them of the upcoming end of support for Chrome on the operating system.
“To get future Google Chrome updates, you will need Windows 10 or later. This computer is using Windows 7,” a Windows 7 device reads. Other Chromium-based browsers may also display the notification. Brave, for example, already shows the notification.
Microsoft is ending support for Windows 7 and 8.1 operating systems in January 2023. Google previously announced that it will end support for Chrome on these operating systems in January 2023 as well . End of support means that Google will no longer release updates for the browser on Windows 7 or 8.1. Google regularly releases security and other updates. Other browsers may extend the support period. Firefox, for example, may be supported for a period of time after official end of support.
Notification of Chrome’s upcoming end of support is important, especially for users who may not have heard of it. Some Chrome users may experience an issue with the notification. Although it is possible to close it using the x icon, it reappears the next time you run the browser.
The notification is always displayed in the active browser tab. Closing it removes it for the session, but it reappears the next time the browser is started.
There is an option to disable the notification, but it only works on installed versions of Chrome. To do this, simply add information to the Windows registry. I created a registry file that you can import to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 devices. Just download the file, end-support-chrome, extract the zip archive and double click on the registry file to add the information to the registry.
It is also possible to edit the registry manually:
- Open Start, type regedit.exe and select the registry editor result.
- Go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesGoogleChrome. - If one of the keys does not exist, right-click on the previous key and select New > Key. Name it accordingly.
- Right-click on Chrome and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
- Name it
SuppressUnsupportedOSWarning. - Double click on the name and set its value to 1.
- Try to restart the browser then verify. If that doesn’t work restart the computer.
Security solution developer, 0Patch, has announced plans to support Windows 7 for at least 2 years with security patches. The service is not free, but costs less than 25 or 35 dollars per year, depending on the plan chosen.
