Internet Explorer Is Retired: What It Means and What to Use Instead

Internet Explorer is gone. Microsoft retired the Internet Explorer 11 desktop app on June 15, 2022, and a later Microsoft Edge update permanently disabled it on many Windows 10 PCs. If you still have an old site or a work app that only runs in Internet Explorer, you do not need the old browser anymore. Microsoft Edge has a built-in Internet Explorer mode for exactly that job.

This page first covered the 2015 news that Microsoft was moving to a new browser. Here is what happened since, what it means for you, and what to use now.

A short history: from Project Spartan to Microsoft Edge

On April 29, 2015, Microsoft revealed the name of the new browser it had been building under the code name Project Spartan. In its own words, "Project Spartan's official name is Microsoft Edge", and it was presented as the browser built for Windows 10. That was the moment Microsoft signalled that Internet Explorer was no longer its future.

Internet Explorer stayed around for years after that, mostly for compatibility with older websites and business software. But no new major version ever arrived. Microsoft confirms that Internet Explorer 11 is the last major version of Internet Explorer.

When Internet Explorer was retired

Microsoft announced that the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application was "officially retired and out of support as of today, June 15, 2022". After that date, people who tried to open Internet Explorer were redirected to Microsoft Edge.

The retirement did not apply to every version of Windows. According to Microsoft's retirement FAQ:

• Affected: Windows 10 client SKUs, Windows 10 IoT, and Windows 10 Enterprise Multi-Session on the Semi-Annual Channel.
• Not affected: Windows 10 client LTSC, and Windows Server on both the Semi-Annual Channel and LTSC.
• Handled separately: Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 with Extended Security Updates (ESU).

Disabled for good in February 2023

Redirecting users was only the first step. Microsoft says Internet Explorer 11 "was permanently disabled on certain versions of Windows 10 on February 14, 2023 through a Microsoft Edge update."

Not on Windows 11 at all

If you use Windows 11, there is nothing to switch off. Microsoft states that "the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application is not available on Windows 11."

What to use instead

For most people the answer is simple: use a modern, supported browser for everyday browsing. Microsoft's own replacement is Microsoft Edge, and it is not limited to Windows. You can download Microsoft Edge for:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux (offered as a .deb package)
• iOS
• Android

Edge is not your only choice. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Brave and Opera are other modern browsers you can use. Pick the one that suits you. The important part is that you stop relying on Internet Explorer for normal browsing.

The one thing only Edge offers is a way to open old Internet Explorer pages, which is where IE mode comes in.

IE mode: for old sites and business apps

Some websites and internal company tools were built years ago to work only in Internet Explorer. For those, Microsoft Edge includes Internet Explorer mode (IE mode). It lets you open those specific pages inside Edge without installing or launching the old browser.

IE mode is not going away soon. Microsoft's lifecycle FAQ says it is supported "through at least 2029", and that Microsoft will give at least one year's notice before support ends. That gives businesses time to plan, but it is still a reason to start moving old apps to modern web standards.

How to turn on IE mode

These are the steps from Microsoft's IE mode support page.

1. In Edge, go to edge://settings/defaultBrowser. Set "Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode)" to Allow, then restart Edge.
2. On a personal device (Edge 141 or later): open Settings and more (...) > Settings > Default Browser. Under "Internet Explorer mode pages", select Add a page, then reload the site.
3. On a work or managed device: open Settings and more (...) and choose Reload in Internet Explorer Mode. This option only appears if your organization has turned on the policy "Allow unconfigured sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode". If you do not see it, ask your IT team.
4. To leave IE mode: select Leave on the information bar, or close the tab.

What should you do?

• Stop using Internet Explorer for everyday browsing. On most Windows 10 PCs it is already disabled, and on Windows 11 it does not exist.
• Use Edge or another modern browser as your default.
• Move your favorites and bookmarks into your new browser so you do not lose saved sites.
• Use IE mode only for the sites that need it, such as an old government portal or an internal company app.
• If you run a business, make a list of the apps that still depend on IE mode and plan to update or replace them before support ends.

FAQ

Can I still download Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer 11 is retired and out of support, and it is not available on Windows 11. On many Windows 10 PCs it was permanently disabled through an Edge update in February 2023. If you need to open an old site, use IE mode in Microsoft Edge instead of looking for an old copy of the browser.

Is IE mode safe to use for everyday browsing?

IE mode is meant for older sites and apps that will not work any other way, not as a full-time browser. Turn it on only for the pages that need it, and do the rest of your browsing in Edge's normal mode. That keeps your everyday browsing on a modern, supported browser.

How long will IE mode be supported?

Microsoft says IE mode in Edge is supported through at least 2029, and it has promised at least one year's notice before support ends.

Was Internet Explorer 11 the last version?

Yes. Microsoft confirms that Internet Explorer 11 is the last major version of Internet Explorer. Its role has passed to Microsoft Edge.