Chrome sync update excludes older machines in the 2025 shift
New rules have been announced for the Chrome Sync service, an element of Chrome that allows passwords and other data to be synchronized between users' devices. Google aims to limit this option to regularly updated Chrome versions, thus excluding the oldest computers.
Users of Google Chrome on ancient computers should note the announced change related to data synchronization. Once they log into Google in the browser, their search history, passwords, and specific preferences will be continuously transferred and available across different devices.
According to the announcement, after the change, which will take effect "in early 2025," there will be some exceptions. Google stated that Chrome Sync will only be functional for those browsers that are updated relatively regularly, meaning the version installed on a computer is no more than four years old.
At first glance, this may appear to be a restriction that affects few people, as browsers typically update in the background almost daily. However, the actual scale may be larger than it seems. The issue may ultimately impact persistent Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users, potentially forcing them to upgrade their computers in extreme cases.
This is because Google has long not supported such old versions of Windows. This approach is justified since Microsoft no longer supports these versions. Nonetheless, practice indicates that both Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 still have users. According to StatCounter data focused on the Polish market, slightly over 2% of all Windows users continue to use these versions—a significant group in the country.
According to information about Chrome updates from Google support, the latest version of the browser that can be installed on computers with Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 is Chrome 109, released in January 2023. This version will be four years old in January 2027, and data synchronization will stop functioning on those devices.
Suppose this is a critical feature of Chrome for someone unable to update the operating system on their computer due to hardware limitations, for example. In that case, they need to plan on replacing their PC within the next two years. It remains uncertain when a similar situation will affect Windows 10, let alone the latest Windows 11. However, it is worth remembering that Windows 10 will lose Microsoft's support in October of this year.
