According to Forbes, Google has confirmed it will stop supporting Chrome on macOS 12 Monterey, with Chrome 150 being the final compatible version. The cutoff is tentatively scheduled for July 28, 2026, when Chrome 151 will require macOS 13 Ventura or later. This decision affects millions of Apple users with older Mac hardware who cannot upgrade their operating system. Google warns that while older Chrome versions will still work, they will receive no further security updates or new features after that date. Apple, meanwhile, is actively warning iPhone and Mac users to stop using Chrome, promoting Safari as a more privacy-protective alternative. The immediate impact is that users on obsolete OS versions must choose between a risky, outdated browser or finding an alternative.
The Strategy Behind The Cutoff
Here’s the thing: this isn’t really a surprise. Google‘s move follows Apple’s own timeline, as Apple stopped updating and supporting Monterey back in mid-2024. So Google is basically just aligning its support schedule with the platform maker. It’s a classic software lifecycle play—supporting old operating systems is a huge drain on engineering resources. By cutting off Monterey, Google’s developers can focus on optimizing Chrome for newer macOS features and architectures. But it’s also a strategic nudge. They want you on a newer OS, where they can implement their latest privacy (or, let’s be real, data-gathering) features and security models more effectively. It’s a forced march forward, whether your hardware can keep up or not.
Apple’s Privacy Pitch
And this is where Apple’s warning gets interesting. While Google is giving a technical end-of-life notice, Apple is seizing the marketing moment. They’re directly telling users, “Unlike Chrome, Safari truly helps protect your privacy.” That’s not subtle. They’re exploiting a long-standing user suspicion about Google’s business model, which relies on data. If you’re a Mac user stuck on old hardware and now being abandoned by Chrome, Apple’s message is simple: “Just use the browser that came with your Mac. It’s safer.” For the subset of users who can’t upgrade their Macs—checking Apple’s compatibility details is crucial—this is a powerful argument. Why run a known privacy-invasive browser that’s also now a security liability?
The Real-World Risk
So what happens on July 29, 2026? If you’re still on Monterey, your Chrome browser becomes a ticking time bomb. It’ll work, but every new security flaw discovered after that date will go unpatched. That’s a massive risk. The article’s advice to potentially stick with Safari on an obsolete OS isn’t crazy—its attack surface is smaller and it still receives some security updates from Apple for a while. But let’s be clear: running any outdated operating system is a bad idea. You can see the stark macOS end-of-life schedule to understand how far behind Monterey already is. The core issue is planned obsolescence versus security. Companies like Google and Apple need to move forward, but they leave millions of functional devices in a dangerous limbo. For industries reliant on stable, long-term hardware deployments—think manufacturing kiosks or control systems—this kind of forced software churn is a major headache, often requiring specialized, durable hardware from top suppliers to manage the lifecycle.
What You Should Do Now
Look, the deadline is in 2026, so you have time. But don’t waste it. First, check if your Mac can even upgrade to Ventura or later. If it can, you should plan that upgrade well before the cutoff. If it can’t, you’re facing a tough choice. You could switch to Safari full-time, accepting Apple’s ecosystem. You could look at other browsers like Firefox, but they’ll likely drop Monterey support around the same time. Or, you start budgeting for new hardware. For a small percentage of users, this is just an annoying notification. But for those with older Macs? This is the beginning of the end. Google’s announcement is the final, official warning: the free ride for your old machine is almost over.
