Summary
Apple’s yearly releases mean that older OS updates get deprecated a lot more quickly. Now, Google Chrome is dropping support for what used to be a pretty popular macOS release—and it could mean trouble for some older Macs.
Google is officially ending support for its Chrome web browser on macOS Big Sur (macOS 11). The change is set to take effect with the release of Chrome 139 at the end of this month—Chrome 138, now rolling out, will be the last release of Chrome to be supported on this operating system. As a reminder, Apple first launched Big Sur in November 2020, and it was succeeded by macOS Monterey in 2021. It’s not that old, but with macOS doing yearly releases—this year we’ll have macOS Tahoe, which is the fifth major macOS release since Big Sur—and Apple doing a pretty good job at updating older Macs, there’s no reason to keep around support for these older operating systems for too long.
Big Sur was the first macOS version to support Apple Silicon and was the version that launched with the original M1 MacBook Air all the way back in 2020. It’s also the last macOS version released for a number of MacBooks launched between 2013 and 2014—this includes popular machines like the 2013 and 2014 MacBook Air, the late 2013 MacBook Pro, and the 2014 iMac. So if you have an extremely old Mac you’re able to’t update through official means, you’re losing support for Chrome—and by this point, support for everything installed on your computer is basically a ticking time bomb since everything will slowly but steadily cut off support for new updates as well. Some of your software might have even already done so.
According to Google, Chrome 138 will continue to function on these systems after the cutoff. You can continue to use your slightly old browser for as long as your heart desires, but it’s probably not a good idea. The browser will not receive any further updates, including crucial security patches or new features. To ensure you’re well aware of your browser’s newly vulnerable status, Chrome will display a persistent “infobar” at the top of the browser window, alerting you that the software is no longer being updated. Over time, an unpatched browser becomes an increasingly significant liability—it might be “fine” at first, but you will be left unprotected against new exploits, phishing techniques, and malware designed to target outdated browser software.
If you have one of these older Macs, you’ll probably have to either install an alternative operating system or look for a new laptop altogether. For what it’s worth, by keeping these older Macs you’re about to have a lot more problems too. macOS Tahoe, to be released later this year, will be the last version of macOS to keep support for Intel-powered Macs. And following next year’s update, a lot of devs might just choose to drop Intel support completely, either immediately or down the road.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025)
The M4 MacBook Air retains its sleek design while upgrading to the M4 chip, enhancing performance for media and AI tasks. It also adds a 12MP Center Stage camera, support for two external displays, and Wi-Fi 6E, making it an even better consumer laptop.
