Official Steam support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 ended on January 1, but until now the Steam client continued to work on these operating systems. Things have just changed.
With the latest client update, Valve is ending this compatibility. Players running Windows 7 or Windows 8 will no longer receive automatic updates or support for technical issues. For Valve, this is a logical step knowing that Microsoft stopped support for these two operating systems in January 2023. They have since become obsolete and vulnerable OSes due to lack of security and compatibility updates.
Steam and Windows 7, it's the end
Players still using these systems are encouraged to migrate at least to Windows 10. This destination is, however, not ideal given that it is scheduled to be abandoned on October 14, 2025. The move to Windows 11 or Linux is therefore more relevant. Additionally, Windows 10 and its predecessors do not support the latest technological advances like the DirectX 12 Ultimate API and the latest graphics drivers, which can limit gaming performance and features.
There are solutions to bypass some compatibility checks and install Windows 11 on unsupported configurations. But in the long run, updating to a newer system remains inevitable to enjoy a secure and optimal gaming experience, especially as the demands of games and software continue to grow.
