Google Chrome is stopping updates and support for these older Macs – here's what you need to know
  • Chrome 151 will drop support for macOS 12 Monterey
  • That means certain older Macs will no longer get browser updates
  • You can switch to a different browser, or get a new Mac

Over time, shiny new gadgets become outdated and obsolete ones, and Google has announced it will no longer be offering updates for its Chrome browser on older Mac computers from the end of July this year.

More specifically, Google Chrome version 150 will be the last to support macOS 12 Monterey, as per an update (via Notebookcheck) on the Chrome Platform Status site. Chrome 151 is "tentatively scheduled" to launch on Tuesday July 28, 2026.

In other words, if you're on a Mac that can't be upgraded to macOS 13 Ventura, you're not going to get the vital Chrome updates and security patches you need to stay safe from July onwards. You'll need to either upgrade your Mac, or switch to another browser.

If you are affected, Chrome won't suddenly stop working when version 151 arrives (we're currently on Chrome 143). However, you won't get any new features, and more importantly, you won't get important security updates from Google either.

Recent macOS history

The 2018 Mac mini
The 2018 Mac mini (Image credit: Future)

macOS 12 Monterey was released in October 2021, with macOS 13 Ventura following the year after. We're now up to macOS 26 Tahoe for the latest Macs, which Apple pushed out to the masses in September of last year.

To check the version your Mac is running, click the Apple icon in macOS (top left), then choose About This Mac. If you're unable to upgrade to anything beyond macOS 12, then you must be using a relatively old Apple laptop or desktop, using an Intel chipset.

You can install macOS 13 Ventura on iMacs and iMac Pros from 2017 and later, Mac minis from 2018 and later, Mac Pros from 2019 and later, MacBooks and MacBook Pros from 2017 and later, and MacBook Airs from 2018 and later.

While Safari hasn't been updated on macOS 12 since July 2024, the latest versions of Firefox and Microsoft Edge do still fully support the older operating system. If you don't want to change from Chrome though, it might be time to invest in a new Mac.

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Source: TechRadar