Steam drops Windows 7 and 8 support with the latest client — users told to ‘update to a more recent version of Windows’ to continue gaming
No more Steam for Windows 7 8 holdouts.
Valve has finally totally dropped Windows 7 and 8 compatibility with its latest Steam client update, meaning the last holdouts using these operating systems will need to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11 (or switch to Linux or Mac) to continue gaming. According to the Steam Client Update (h/t PCGamesN), "This version of the Steam client will no longer run on Windows 7 or Windows 8. Users on these OS versions will not automatically update to this new version of the Steam Client."
This development has long been expected, especially as Microsoft has stopped supporting both operating systems for years now, with Windows 7 reaching end-of-life in January 2020 and the same happening to Windows 8 in January 2023. Steam said that it would stop releasing updates for these operating systems as of January 1, 2024, but users could still use the platform without technical support.
However, the November 5 Steam Client Update means that you can no longer use the latest version of the Steam client on your Windows 7 or Windows 8. You should still be able to continue gaming on your system as long as you don't forcibly update Steam, though how long that remains possible remains to be seen.
Despite its age, Windows 7 (which launched in 2009) still has 0.28% of Steam users as of the October 2024 Steam Survey. That's a small number by percentage, but Steam has 132 million active users as of June 2024, so that could equate to around 350,000 people. If you’re one of the few who refuse to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11, you can still continue using the latest version of Steam by switching to Linux or SteamOS (or a Mac).
The latest Steam Client supports macOS 10.15 Catalina and newer, and Apple usually lets you update your Macs and MacBooks for several years. So, an iMac, Mac, or MacBook from 2013 onward should suffice, as far as the OS requirements go. Alternatively, you could install Linux on your old Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC. Steam supports distributions based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer; it’s also easy and free to upgrade to a newer Linux OS if you already have a computer running an older version.
Windows 7 was one of the more well-regarded Windows versions to ever come out. That’s why it’s still in use by hundreds of thousands of people today. But as all good things come to an end, so must Steam support for this esteemed operating system. Besides, there are plenty of documented security holes in Windows 7 so it's not exactly a good idea to keep using it while connected to the internet.
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Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.
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emike09 It's about time. Windows has always been backwards compatible with the exception of off-system server requirements. You can still technically install and run old Steam builds, but sadly you can't run those old games now without upgrading your OS. Do an in-place upgrade to W10 at least and you keep your library. As the world progresses, I both love and hate to see backward compatibility. Apple is easily the worst offender here, closing out support for 2–3-year-old applications. For closed platforms, you can only expect so many years before you either have to let it go or sit with your library and enjoy what you have.Reply
Windows 7 is 15 years old. I don't want application developers wasting their time on the 1% of people who can't leave a 15-year-old platform. NGL, I enjoy whipping up some DOSBox and getting all techy with things I grew up with in the early 90s. If you want new, you have to invest into new. If you don't, I'm glad you're enjoying your nostalgic experience, and you can sit comfortably with what you have! Unlike Apple, who forcibly blocks you from such experiences.
Any modern platform must move on from Win7. Win 8 isn't even worth mentioning. I support Steam moving forward and investing their resources into future development. -
edzieba
Or just copy the steamapps folder. After you perform a fresh OS install and steam install, restore the old steamapps folder and sign back into steam, and it will re-verify the game files without needing to download everything again.emike09 said:Do an in-place upgrade to W10 at least and you keep your library. -
joeer77 That sucks. I loved Windows 7. It was perfect operating system. MSFT went downhill after that.Reply