Google Will Soon End Chrome Support for These Macs
Chrome is, without a doubt, the most popular web browser in the world . So it’s likely that you’re reading this article on it right now. If you’re using a Mac, especially an older one, I have news for you: Google may soon be ending support for Chrome on your computer.
The company quietly announced the news in a post on its Chrome Platform Status site . Chrome 138, the current version of Chrome, will be the last version to support macOS 11, also known as macOS Big Sur. Once Google launches Chrome 139, it will only be available on Macs running macOS 12 or later.
This doesn’t mean that Chrome won’t work on Macs running Big Sur, however. You won’t have to worry about suddenly losing your internet access just because you’re using an older machine. However, it does mean that your version of Chrome won’t receive any future updates, including, importantly, security patches. Security updates are essential to the safe use of internet-connected technology: software vulnerabilities are inevitable, and when they’re discovered, developers rush to fix them before hackers can exploit them.
Google frequently releases security updates for Chrome , and often fixes critical issues after they are publicly disclosed or exploited (also known as zero-day vulnerabilities). As such, using a version of Chrome without the latest security updates for an extended period of time is unsafe, meaning macOS Big Sur users should not use Chrome for the foreseeable future. Apple is also no longer releasing security updates for Big Sur. I wouldn’t recommend that you continue using a version of macOS without security updates, but if you choose to do so, your browser should be secure.
What to do if you have Big Sur installed on your Mac
macOS Big Sur was released in November 2020 , so if you recently updated your Mac, you’re probably safe. But to be sure, you can check which version you have by clicking the Apple icon in the top-left corner and selecting About This Mac . Your operating system version will be displayed next to “macOS.”
If you’re running Big Sur, check for an update to a newer version of macOS in System Preferences > General > Software Update — any update to macOS 12 or later will work. If there’s no update, your Mac may not support macOS 12 or later, and Apple says it’ll be stuck on macOS 11.
You have a few options beyond buying a new Mac. If you’re not tied to Chrome, you can simply switch to a web browser that still supports Big Sur. These include Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera, and all three will continue to release software and security updates for your web browsing.
If you need Chrome to work and you’re a bit tech-savvy, try contacting Apple to update your Mac to a new version of macOS. OpenCore Legacy Patcher can help you install versions of macOS that aren’t supported on your computer. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to run the latest version of macOS, but you’ll likely be able to update to a version that Chrome still supports. Just be aware that the process is a bit involved.