Firefox ESR

So, Microsoft is dropping support for the Firefox ESR engine on Windows what’s that all about? It’s part of a bigger shift we’ve seen from them lately, like when they pulled the plug on Internet Explorer not too long ago. A lot of people are wondering why they’d do this, especially since Firefox still has a loyal following. Mozilla isn’t staying quiet either they’ve publicly asked Microsoft to explain the move, while also reassuring users that Firefox isn’t going anywhere. You’ll still be able to run it on Windows; it just won’t be bundled or officially supported by Microsoft anymore.

Here’s the interesting part: even though Firefox is getting the boot from Windows in an official sense, it’s still thriving on other platforms especially Linux. In fact, a lot of Windows users have been switching to Linux partly because of the freedom to use browsers like Firefox without restrictions. The Linux version is stable, secure, and backed by a super active open source community something Microsoft can’t really compete with on the same level. So in a way, this might actually push more people toward open source alternatives.

Is this a bad move? Not really. Firefox itself isn’t going away you can still download and use it. The ESR (Extended Support Release) version was mostly for organizations that needed long term stability, and honestly, most home users won’t even notice the difference. Some speculate that Microsoft is doing this to reduce competition or lock down their ecosystem, but the reality is that modern Windows is built around Edge, their own browser. And let’s be real Edge has come a long way. It’s now Chromium based, faster than ever, and deeply integrated with Windows features like Microsoft Copilot and Windows Defender.

There were some concerns that removing ESR might open security risks or give Microsoft hidden backdoor access, but that seems unlikely. Microsoft has been focusing heavily on security lately think Windows Hello, BitLocker, and regular vulnerability patches. If anything, streamlining the built in browser support probably makes the OS easier to maintain and secure. At the end of the day, you’ve still got choices: Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera and yes, Firefox is still just a download away. So no need to panic.