diff --git a/.github/workflows/download-arm64-libs.py b/.github/workflows/download-arm64-libs.py
index 51c5bcd02..841673f98 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/download-arm64-libs.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/download-arm64-libs.py
@@ -28,16 +28,16 @@
     VERSION += f"-rc{sys.version_info.serial}"
 
 URL = f"https://www.nuget.org/api/v2/package/pythonarm64/{VERSION}"
-PATH = dest / f"pythonarm64.{VERSION}.zip"
+DEST_PATH = dest / f"pythonarm64.{VERSION}.zip"
 
-if PATH.is_file():
-    print("Skipping download because", PATH, "exists")
+if DEST_PATH.is_file():
+    print("Skipping download because", DEST_PATH, "exists")
 else:
     print("Downloading", URL)
-    urlretrieve(URL, PATH)
-    print("Downloaded", PATH)
+    urlretrieve(URL, DEST_PATH)
+    print("Downloaded", DEST_PATH)
 
-with ZipFile(PATH, "r") as zf:
+with ZipFile(DEST_PATH, "r") as zf:
     for name in zf.namelist():
         zip_path = pathlib.PurePath(name)
         if zip_path.parts[:2] == ("tools", "libs"):
diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index aa1049f06..2af0d70a0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.7", "3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13-dev"]
+        python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13-dev"]
         architecture: ["x64", "x86"]
 
     steps:
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           python --version
           pip --version
-          pip install --upgrade setuptools wheel
+          pip install --upgrade setuptools>=74 wheel
 
       - name: Build and install
         run: |
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           python --version
           pip --version
-          pip install --upgrade setuptools wheel
+          pip install --upgrade setuptools>=74 wheel
 
       - name: Obtain ARM64 library files
         run: |
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ jobs:
           cache-dependency-path: .github/workflows/main.yml
       - run: pip install clang-format pycln
       - run: pycln . --config=pycln.toml --check
-      - uses: chartboost/ruff-action@v1
+      - uses: astral-sh/ruff-action@v1
         with:
           version: "0.4.5"
       - uses: psf/black@stable
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        # mypy 1.5 dropped support for Python 3.7
         # mypy won't understand "3.13-dev", keeping the CI simple by just omitting it
         python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
     steps:
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.7", "3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13-dev"]
+        python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13-dev"]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index 8d1012619..d8978afd5 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ https://mhammond.github.io/pywin32_installers.html.
 Coming in build 309, as yet unreleased
 --------------------------------------
 
+* Dropped support for Python 3.7 (#2207, @Avasam)
 * Implement record pointers as [in, out] method parameters of a Dispatch Interface (#2310)
 * Fix memory leak converting to PyObject from some SAFEARRAY elements (#2316)
 * Fix bug where makepy support was unnecessarily generated (#2354, #2353, @geppi)
diff --git a/Pythonwin/pywin/test/test_pywin.py b/Pythonwin/pywin/test/test_pywin.py
index 6cf973a92..49acc9d5e 100644
--- a/Pythonwin/pywin/test/test_pywin.py
+++ b/Pythonwin/pywin/test/test_pywin.py
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ def setUpClass(cls):
         def _restore_oe():
             sys.stdout, sys.stderr = cls.std_oe_orig
 
-        if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
-            cls.addClassCleanup(_restore_oe)
+        cls.addClassCleanup(_restore_oe)
         sys.argv[1:] = ["/new", src_dir + "\\_dbgscript.py"]
         if not _indebugger:
             thisApp.InitInstance()
@@ -65,7 +64,7 @@ def tearDownClass(cls):
             win32api.PostQuitMessage()
             win32gui.PumpWaitingMessages()
             cls.app.ExitInstance()
-        sys.stdout, sys.stderr = cls.std_oe_orig  # py3.7
+        sys.stdout, sys.stderr = cls.std_oe_orig
 
     def test_1_pydocs_and_finddlg(self):
         mf = win32ui.GetMainFrame()
diff --git a/build_all.bat b/build_all.bat
index 536aee00d..ec8cbbaa2 100644
--- a/build_all.bat
+++ b/build_all.bat
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-py -3.7-32 setup.py -q build
-@if errorlevel 1 goto failed
-py -3.7 setup.py -q build
-@if errorlevel 1 goto failed
 py -3.8-32 setup.py -q build
 @if errorlevel 1 goto failed
 py -3.8 setup.py -q build
diff --git a/build_env.md b/build_env.md
index d9c55ac10..4f616bf99 100644
--- a/build_env.md
+++ b/build_env.md
@@ -149,7 +149,6 @@ from the pywin32 directory.
 - Update `setuptools` and set the following environment variables to ensure it is used:
 
     ```shell
-    set SETUPTOOLS_USE_DISTUTILS=1
     set DISTUTILS_USE_SDK=1
     ```
 
diff --git a/com/win32com/test/pippo_server.py b/com/win32com/test/pippo_server.py
index c5ae2df40..d8e964623 100644
--- a/com/win32com/test/pippo_server.py
+++ b/com/win32com/test/pippo_server.py
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ def Method3(self, in1):
 
 
 def BuildTypelib():
-    if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
-        from setuptools.modified import newer
-    else:
-        from distutils.dep_util import newer
+    from setuptools.modified import newer
 
     this_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
     idl = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(this_dir, "pippo.idl"))
diff --git a/make_all.bat b/make_all.bat
index c6d6a2b33..05855ddfb 100644
--- a/make_all.bat
+++ b/make_all.bat
@@ -13,11 +13,6 @@ rem Now the binaries.
 rem Check /build_env.md#build-environment to make sure you have all the required components installed
 
 rem (bdist_wininst needs --target-version to name the installers correctly!)
-py -3.7-32 setup.py -q bdist_wininst --skip-build --target-version=3.7
-py -3.7-32 setup.py -q bdist_wheel --skip-build
-py -3.7 setup.py -q bdist_wininst --skip-build --target-version=3.7
-py -3.7 setup.py -q bdist_wheel --skip-build
-
 py -3.8-32 setup.py -q bdist_wininst --skip-build --target-version=3.8
 py -3.8-32 setup.py -q bdist_wheel --skip-build
 py -3.8 setup.py -q bdist_wininst --skip-build --target-version=3.8
diff --git a/mypy.ini b/mypy.ini
index bd1cd4316..e4676e0c7 100644
--- a/mypy.ini
+++ b/mypy.ini
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 [mypy]
 show_column_numbers = true
 ; Target the oldest supported version in editors and default CLI
-; mypy 1.5 dropped support for Python 3.7
 python_version = 3.8
 
 strict = true
diff --git a/pyrightconfig.json b/pyrightconfig.json
index 1721da1a2..d96b3fc9d 100644
--- a/pyrightconfig.json
+++ b/pyrightconfig.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "typeCheckingMode": "basic",
   // Target the oldest supported version in editors and default CLI
-  "pythonVersion": "3.7",
+  "pythonVersion": "3.8",
   // Keep it simple for now by allowing both mypy and pyright to use `type: ignore`
   "enableTypeIgnoreComments": true,
   // Exclude from scanning when running pyright
diff --git a/ruff.toml b/ruff.toml
index 603043e8f..eab7fcce1 100644
--- a/ruff.toml
+++ b/ruff.toml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-target-version = "py37" # Target the oldest supported version
+target-version = "py38" # Target the oldest supported version in editors and default CLI
 
 [lint]
 select = [
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ce0120e24..e25465fd7 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 from setuptools.command.build_ext import build_ext
 from setuptools.command.install import install
 from setuptools.command.install_lib import install_lib
+from setuptools.modified import newer_group
 from tempfile import gettempdir
 from typing import Iterable
 
@@ -47,11 +48,6 @@
 from distutils._msvccompiler import MSVCCompiler
 from distutils.command.install_data import install_data
 
-if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
-    from setuptools.modified import newer_group
-else:
-    from distutils.dep_util import newer_group
-
 build_id_patch = build_id
 if not "." in build_id_patch:
     build_id_patch += ".0"
@@ -868,12 +864,6 @@ def run(self):
         install.run(self)
         # Custom script we run at the end of installing - this is the same script
         # run by bdist_wininst
-        # This child process won't be able to install the system DLLs until our
-        # process has terminated (as distutils imports win32api!), so we must use
-        # some 'no wait' executor - spawn seems fine!  We pass the PID of this
-        # process so the child will wait for us.
-        # XXX - hmm - a closer look at distutils shows it only uses win32api
-        # if _winreg fails - and this never should.  Need to revisit this!
         # If self.root has a value, it means we are being "installed" into
         # some other directory than Python itself (eg, into a temp directory
         # for bdist_wininst to use) - in which case we must *not* run our
@@ -885,7 +875,8 @@ def run(self):
             if not os.path.isfile(filename):
                 raise RuntimeError(f"Can't find '{filename}'")
             print("Executing post install script...")
-            # What executable to use?  This one I guess.
+            # As of setuptools>=74.0.0, we no longer need to
+            # be concerned about distutils calling win32api
             subprocess.Popen(
                 [
                     sys.executable,
@@ -905,8 +896,8 @@ def install(self):
         # This is crazy - in setuptools 61.1.0 (and probably some earlier versions), the
         # install_lib and build comments don't agree on where the .py files to install can
         # be found, so we end up with a warning logged:
-        # `warning: my_install_lib: 'build\lib.win-amd64-3.7' does not exist -- no Python modules to install`
-        # (because they are actually in `build\lib.win-amd64-cpython-37`!)
+        # `warning: my_install_lib: 'build\lib.win-amd64-3.8' does not exist -- no Python modules to install`
+        # (because they are actually in `build\lib.win-amd64-cpython-38`!)
         # It's not an error though, so we end up with .exe installers lacking our lib files!
         builder = self.get_finalized_command("build")
         if os.path.isdir(builder.build_platlib) and not os.path.isdir(self.build_dir):
@@ -2151,7 +2142,6 @@ def convert_optional_data_files(files):
     "Intended Audience :: Developers",
     "License :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation License",
     "Operating System :: Microsoft :: Windows",
-    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
diff --git a/win32/Lib/pywin32_bootstrap.py b/win32/Lib/pywin32_bootstrap.py
index fbc4f7be4..c9f59a56d 100644
--- a/win32/Lib/pywin32_bootstrap.py
+++ b/win32/Lib/pywin32_bootstrap.py
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 # In short, there's a directory installed by pywin32 named 'pywin32_system32'
 # with some important DLLs which need to be found by Python when some pywin32
 # modules are imported.
-# If Python has `os.add_dll_directory()`, we need to call it with this path.
-# Otherwise, we add this path to PATH.
 
 
 try:
@@ -19,11 +17,5 @@
     # https://docs.python.org/3/reference/import.html#__path__
     for path in pywin32_system32.__path__:
         if os.path.isdir(path):
-            if hasattr(os, "add_dll_directory"):
-                os.add_dll_directory(path)
-            # This is to ensure the pywin32 path is in the beginning to find the
-            # pywin32 DLLs first and prevent other PATH entries to shadow them
-            elif not os.environ["PATH"].startswith(path):
-                os.environ["PATH"] = os.environ["PATH"].replace(os.pathsep + path, "")
-                os.environ["PATH"] = path + os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"]
+            os.add_dll_directory(path)
             break
diff --git a/win32/src/_win32sysloader.cpp b/win32/src/_win32sysloader.cpp
index 0a9e4dcac..9a9ef7c27 100644
--- a/win32/src/_win32sysloader.cpp
+++ b/win32/src/_win32sysloader.cpp
@@ -52,13 +52,7 @@ static PyObject *PyLoadModule(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     if (!modName)
         return NULL;
 
-        // Python 3.7 vs 3.8 use different flags for LoadLibraryEx and we match them.
-        // See github issue 1787.
-#if (PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x03080000)
-    HINSTANCE hinst = LoadLibraryEx(modName, NULL, LOAD_WITH_ALTERED_SEARCH_PATH);
-#else
     HINSTANCE hinst = LoadLibraryEx(modName, NULL, LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH_DEFAULT_DIRS | LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH_DLL_LOAD_DIR);
-#endif
     PyMem_Free(modName);
     if (hinst == NULL) {
         Py_INCREF(Py_None);