If you are still holding onto a trusty MacBook or iMac from several years ago, you might want to check your system settings sooner rather than late. It is a common cycle in the tech world where software eventually outpaces the hardware it was built for, and we have reached that point for a specific group of Apple users. Google has confirmed that Google Chrome is stopping updates for any Mac that cannot run at least macOS 11 Big Sur.
This move effectively draws a line in the sand for those still running macOS 10.15 Catalina. While your computer will not suddenly stop working, the browser that you likely use for everything from banking to streaming is about to enter a state of permanent “as-is.”
The end of the road for macOS Catalina
The shift starts with the release of Chrome version 133. For anyone on the older operating system, this specific version is the final stop. Google has made it clear that to keep receiving the latest features and critical security fixes, you need to be on a more modern version of the Mac operating system.
It is easy to feel frustrated when a perfectly functional machine gets “retired” by software developers. However, the reasoning usually boils down to the underlying code. As Apple stops supporting its own older operating systems with security patches, it becomes increasingly difficult and risky for third-party developers like Google to keep their applications safe and functional on those same platforms.
Why you should care about security patches
You might be thinking that you can just keep using the older version of Chrome indefinitely. Technically, you can. The browser will still open, and most websites will still load for a while. But the real danger is not about whether a website looks right. It is about the invisible security patches that Google rolls out almost every week.
When Google Chrome is stopping updates for your device, it means you are no longer protected against the latest vulnerabilities discovered by hackers. Browsers are the primary gateway to the internet, and an unpatched browser is a massive target. If a major flaw is found in the way Chrome handles certain data, users on version 133 or older will remain exposed while the rest of the world gets a fix.
Your options for staying connected
If you find yourself stuck on macOS Catalina, you have a few paths forward. The first and easiest is to check if your Mac is actually capable of upgrading to macOS Big Sur or later. Sometimes we ignore those notification badges in the System Preferences, but now is the time to see if there is an official update waiting for you.
If your hardware is officially cut off by Apple and cannot go past Catalina, you might look at alternative browsers. However, keep in mind that most major browsers like Microsoft Edge or Firefox usually follow Google’s lead regarding operating system support. Eventually, they will likely stop updates as well.
The most realistic long-term solution for those who want to stay secure is to look into newer hardware. It does not necessarily have to be a brand new M3 MacBook, but moving to a machine that supports the latest macOS versions will ensure you aren’t left behind by the next wave of software transitions.
The final version of Chrome to support macOS 10.15 Catalina is Chrome 132. The official cutoff begins with the rollout of Chrome 133. Users on older systems will see a notification within the browser suggesting an upgrade to a newer version of macOS to continue receiving updates. This change is effective immediately following the stable release of version 133.
