A couple of weeks ago, I did a piece on why people are still using Windows XP. It turned out the primary reason was support for certain legacy programs that don't work on modern versions of the OS, especially in industrial setups. But there was also a small group that still had Windows XP as their primary operating system. And web connectivity is the only reason they haven't switched yet.

Naturally, I started looking for browsers that still worked on Windows XP, given that popular options had dropped support years ago. Supermium turned out to be the first choice for the majority. It's a Chromium-based browser, similar to Google Chrome, but it's open source and designed specifically for outdated operating systems like Windows XP.

Supermium keeps Windows XP usable in 2026

An outdated OS suddenly becomes functional

As soon as I set up Windows XP on a virtual machine, I installed Supermium. It wasn't a regular installation because the native browser, Internet Explorer, couldn't connect to the web. Instead, I had to create an ISO with the browser's setup and then install it on Windows XP. After installing Supermium, I typed in Google's address, hit "Enter," and the most visited webpage worldwide loaded instantly. It wasn't blazing fast, but at least I could finally access the web, something Internet Explorer couldn't do. That, I believe, is the reason Windows XP is still alive in 2026. As long as browsers like Supermium exist, the OS remains functional.

Let's face it, Windows XP didn't become obscure because it had issues. The OS lost out because Microsoft, followed by developers, dropped support for it. Frankly, developers saw no incentive to maintain apps for an OS with roughly a 0.42% market share (according to Statcounter) amongst Windows PCs. The vast majority of modern-day apps don't support Windows XP. Still, there are a few that keep XP usable, like Legacy Update to get the system up-to-date and working, and VLC Media Player for media playback. But out of everything I tried, Supermium bagged the top spot, since it helped me overcome the biggest obstacle and delivered a practical browsing experience.

What it's like browsing the web on Windows XP

Certainly not as bad as I had initially anticipated

Now, it was time to test whether Supermium could actually load a bunch of everyday websites. I tried Google, YouTube, Reddit, Pinterest, and Gmail. I was inclined towards websites that didn't require me to sign in to my accounts, given the risks, with the exception of Gmail, since I couldn't resist. It's the most popular email service, and if it worked well, Supermium on Windows XP does the job.

Starting with Google, the search engine loads and works absolutely fine. It almost instantly loaded the search results. XDA Developers loaded fine, too. Next, it was time for YouTube. I had no issues playing videos, although there was some level of slowdown. It could have been due to the VM configuration and not necessarily the browser and OS combination. Reddit, on the other hand, was much better, possibly because it was lighter than YouTube. And it was the same for Pinterest. To my surprise, Gmail worked too. I had my doubts about it since Gmail requires a certain level of security, and I had previously read about issues affecting the experience. But for me, it was a smooth ride, much like any other browser on a supported version of Windows.

It's still a hit-or-miss experience

The modern web wasn't designed for Windows XP

While Supermium makes Windows XP usable by allowing access to the modern web, it's still far from perfect. Some websites simply won't load, and a few would work, but with limited functionality. For instance, neither Netflix nor Prime Video would play any of the titles. I checked, and it had to do with the "Widevine VMP signature" requirements. Then, the more resource-intensive ones like Canva pushed it a little too far. At one point, the VM crashed after running out of free memory. I had allocated 4 GB to the VM, so it wasn't exactly short on RAM. But it still struggled the moment the workload increased.

Then there are banking portals, which, in my understanding, are likely to throw errors or block sign-in attempts altogether. Honestly, I didn't give it a try because, you know, it is Windows XP. I wasn't willing to trust it with my banking credentials, and I wouldn't recommend it either, even if you have a solid antivirus. Windows XP is long out of support and should be treated as such. It's not as secure as Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Keeping Windows XP alive is possible, even in 2026

But security is still a concern

After a few hours of use, I could see why some people stick with Windows XP with Supermium as the primary browser, or any other browser that does the job. And it doesn't feel bare-bones. With a supported browser, Windows XP is still functional for basic, everyday use. But Windows XP remains a security risk. Even with a browser like Supermium, you can't start downloading random files from the web. You need good cyber hygiene to protect your data, because unsupported operating systems are one of the easiest targets for threat actors.