Google Chrome will soon stop working on some MacBooks: Here's why

If you’re using an older MacBook running macOS Big Sur (version 11), it’s time to pay attention. Google has announced that Chrome will soon stop updating on this version of macOS. Starting July 30, Chrome 139 will no longer work on macOS 11, meaning you’ll need to update your system to keep using the latest browser features.

Google confirmed this change through its Chrome Platform Status page. Chrome 138 will be the last version to support macOS Big Sur. After that, you’ll need at least macOS 12 (Monterey) or a newer version to get updates. Google says the decision is linked to security — running Chrome on an outdated system increases security risks, and Apple has already ended official support for macOS 11.

If you continue using Chrome on Big Sur, the browser will technically still open, but you’ll see a warning message telling you it’s no longer supported. You won’t receive any new features or important security updates after Chrome 138. For fresh installations of Chrome, you won’t even be able to download Chrome 139 or later without macOS 12 or above.

So, what should you do? If your MacBook can be updated to a newer version of macOS, now is the time to do it. But if your hardware is too old to support newer macOS versions, you may want to explore other browsers that still support Big Sur — at least while they continue to do so.