Microsoft announced today that a future Microsoft Edge update would permanently disable the Internet Explorer 11 desktop web browser on some Windows 10 systems in February.
This comes after a previous warning from June 15, the day Internet Explorer reached its end of support, when the company told customers that the legacy web browser would get disabled via a Windows update.
"The out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) desktop application is scheduled to be permanently disabled on certain versions of Windows 10 devices on February 14, 2023, through a Microsoft Edge update, not a Windows update as previously communicated," Redmond said on Friday.
"All remaining devices that have not already been redirected from IE11 to Microsoft Edge are scheduled to be redirected with the Microsoft Edge update scheduled for February 14, 2023."
Enterprise admins are advised to transition from IE11 to Microsoft Edge with IE mode and remove IE visual references from the Start Menu and the Windows taskbar with the Disable IE policy before February 14 to avoid "business disruption at scale when users lose access to IE11-dependent applications."
Next year's May non-security preview release and the June Windows monthly security update are also designed to remove them in environments where admins will not act before IE11 gets permanently disabled.
BleepingComputer previously reported that Internet Explorer would redirect users to the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge when launching the Internet Explorer 11 desktop applications.
Starting in October 2020, IE11 has been automatically launching Microsoft Edge when visiting incompatible sites. The list of incompatible sites (managed by Microsoft) contains 7,562 domains belonging to a long list of high-profile online platforms and services, including Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Twitter, and many others.
During the redirection process, users' data (including settings, passwords, and favorites) will be imported into Microsoft Edge to make the switch easier.
Internet Explorer still around for some time
Even though officially retired from multiple Windows 10 versions on the semi-annual channel (SAC) servicing channel and not shipping with Windows 11, IE11 will still be available on Windows 7 ESU, Windows 8.1, and versions of Windows 10 LTSC client, IoT, and Server.
The web browser will continue receiving technical support and security updates on systems running these Windows versions for the lifecycle of the Windows version it runs on.
Microsoft has been urging customers to switch to Microsoft Edge with IE mode for years as it enables backward compatibility and will be supported through at least 2029—you can learn more about IE mode and how to make the switch in this getting started guide.
To enable IE mode in Microsoft Edge, you have to go to edge://settings/defaultbrowser, toggle on the 'Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer' option, and restart the browser.
Microsoft first announced plans to ditch support for IE11 in Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 in August 2020, with an official retirement announcement issued in May 2021.
Microsoft discontinued IE support in Teams in November 2020 and also ended support across Microsoft 365 apps and services in August 2021.
Other Microsoft services and apps have also ended support for Internet Explorer during the last few years—a complete list is available here.
Comments
nauip - 1 year ago
Well, that should be *super* handy for maintaining old DVR systems (that work perfectly fine) that still require MS IE so I can use the plugin to log in to them.
ThomasMann - 1 year ago
M$ is a company who exist to make money, not to be of any service to you.
Why don't you use Win11, there is a few more ways built-in to suck your data...
BTW, Win7 still works fine...
CJatWork - 1 year ago
@nauip - Do you have an old retail copy of Windows 7 or XP available? If so, drop that into VirtualBox and you'll have access to MS IE for as long as you can keep the host machine alive.
Sam Gunn - 1 year ago
Today, I had a problem opening IE. Each time I clicked on the IE icon, ME came up. But I found a work around. I clicked on task manager. When it came up, I clicked on file. Then on run new task.
I type this in the box.
iexplore.exe -extoff
And it worked. IE came up. It will turn off ad blocker. But I have sites that refresh every few minutes set as not safe. Now if I knew how to turn off updates for ME, since I never use it.
lonegull - 1 year ago
Even 10+ years from now people will still be clinging to IE 11 and Windows 10. I never saw the attraction to IE, awful browser!
nauip - 1 year ago
Don't even get me started on these awful DVRs people cling to that still require a IE Plugin to maintain.
defective1up - 1 year ago
iexplore.exe -extoff no longer works with the latest Edge installed. Which I personally think is great. Get off IE! It's a dead browser. Learn to try new things, sheesh.
Sam Gunn - 1 year ago
I do use other browsers. But I also like IE. And IE still works. I do not, and never will use Edge. Make Edge to look like IE, then I will use Edge.
I want File, Edit, View, Favorites, and Help at the top. I don't like symbols. I like words. I'm using Opera right now. And I don't see anything but symbols. I also like setting a website as not safe.
Then videos, or audio won't play. And the website won't refresh.
The one problem with IE, is that history is not labeled. I have to click on a star to see history.
On Opera, I have to click on a clock on the left side of the screen. When they could have put the word history there.