Google will stop supporting Chrome and Calendar on devices running Android 7. The applications will continue to work but will no longer receive new features. It’s high time to change your smartphone!
All smartphone manufacturers provide updates to their devices for several years. There are two types: major operating system (OS) updates, which bring new functions and interface changes, and security updates, which correct system flaws in order to protect against viruses and other malware. However, after a certain time – which depends on the policy of each manufacturer – the latter no longer monitors the device. And that ends up being a problem, because mobile apps end up not being supported anymore.
This is the case of Google Chrome and Google Calendar, which will no longer receive new updates and functions on devices running Android 7 – also called Android Nougat and released in 2016 –, as reported 9to5google. To continue to benefit from the latest developments in the Internet giant’s web browser and calendar, you will need to have a device running at least Android 8 – also called Android Oreo and launched in 2017. Don’t panic, however, because this should only concern 3% of users with an Android device.
Google Chrome and Google Calendar: end of story under Android 7
Those affected received a message from Google inviting them to update their OS, if this is possible of course. The next version of Google Chrome, 120, should be deployed to the general public in early 2024 and will therefore require at least Android 8 to work correctly. The others will stop at version 7. Please note that the browser will continue to work, only it will no longer receive improvements. For Google Calendar, however, things are a little more vague. Here again, the application cannot be updated if the device is not running at least Android 8 and will not accommodate version 2023.46.0-581792699, of the calendar, the deployment of which is in progress. One might believe that, like Chrome, the app remains usable, but a hidden parameter (a flag) discovered by TheSpAndroidshould allow Google to display an alert when the app is running on unsupported devices – permanently?
Don’t panic though! Devices still running Android 7 are old and represented only 3% of Android devices in circulation in May 2023. In addition, they probably no longer have updates, especially since, at the time, the software monitoring policy was shorter than today. As a result, they are ideal targets for cybercriminals. Now is probably the time to change your phone – taking care to look at the duration of the manufacturer’s software support before making your choice. Otherwise, it is better to at least use another web browser and another calendar that still benefits from security updates, in order to limit the risks.