K-Meleon for Windows

K-Meleon 76.5.3 is a free, open-source web browser for Windows, developed by the K-Meleon project since 2000. You can download it for a modern PC, but its real strength is running well on old hardware and older Windows versions that current mainstream browsers no longer support.

Specifications

What makes K-Meleon different

K-Meleon is a Windows-only browser built around the Gecko engine, the same family of technology used by Firefox, but wrapped in a native Windows interface instead of a cross-platform one. The project has always cared about two things: speed on modest machines and deep customisation. Almost everything can be changed, from menus and toolbars to keyboard shortcuts and mouse gestures, through configuration files and macros. That makes it attractive for tinkerers and for people who want a browser that looks and behaves exactly the way they like. The other group of users are those with an old PC. The official download page states that Windows XP SP3 is enough, and that 2003, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11 are all supported. It does not require an SSE processor, and the program itself can start with as little as 20 MB of RAM, although modern web pages will ask for more.

How to install

1. Open the official K-Meleon download page and choose the installer or the portable archive.
2. Run the installer and pick a folder, or unpack the portable version to a USB stick or any folder.
3. Start K-Meleon and import bookmarks from another browser if you need them.
4. Open the preferences to adjust toolbars, privacy options and the default search engine.

Security

An old engine is the weak spot of any niche browser. Keep K-Meleon updated, read the changelog for fixes, and avoid entering banking details on a system that no longer receives Windows updates. Download it only from the official site or the project repository on SourceForge.

Price

K-Meleon is free and open-source. There are no ads, paid tiers or accounts.

Tips

On a very old PC, disable images or scripts for heavy sites through the preferences and keep only a few tabs open. The portable edition is handy for carrying your settings between computers on a USB stick.

Pros and cons

• Pro: very light on resources.
• Pro: runs on old Windows versions.
• Pro: deep customisation through macros and settings.
• Pro: portable edition available.
• Con: some modern sites may not display correctly.
• Con: small community and slower updates than major browsers.
• Con: interface feels dated.

Alternatives

Other browsers on our site that suit older or low-end PCs include Pale Moon, Mypal68 and Firefox ESR. For a mainstream option there are Microsoft Edge, Chromium and Waterfox.