Windows 10 users will receive the update over the coming days, Microsoft said. Although software support for Internet Explorer ended in June last year, some continue to use the popular browser, which has been around for the better part of a quarter century. “The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10,” Microsoft said in a blog post. Although Internet Explorer has been disabled, the app’s icon will continue to be visible in the Start Menu and taskbar. Microsoft plans to issue another update in June 2023 to delete these “visual references.”
Microsoft Recommends Making the Transition
Microsoft recommends that all users switch to Edge. The company also suggests that organizations that depend on legacy websites use “IE mode” on Edge and disable Internet Explorer as soon as possible to avoid risking large-scale “business disruptions.” The Microsoft Edge update that disables IE11 “will be delivered to all devices — both commercial and consumer — at the same time, and users will be unable to reverse the change,” Microsoft said in an announcement in December 2022. Microsoft planned to disable Internet Explorer 11 last year, but that date was pushed to Valentine’s day in 2023. The browser’s functions have been slowly phased out over the course of the past three years, and it only received security patches on a monthly basis. In August 2021, Microsoft ended support for service functions and Microsoft 365 apps on Internet Explorer 11, like OneDrive and Sharepoint. The company also disabled Microsoft Teams for IE11 in November 2020. Internet Explorer dominated the browser market from 1996 to around 2013, when Google Chrome snagged the top spot. At the moment, Microsoft Edge is far behind Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari on the desktop market but still serves an estimated 160 million users. Microsoft says the reasons for the transition from Internet Explorer 11 include improved compatibility, productivity, and browser security. Microsoft Edge is to carry on Internet Explorer’s flame with better privacy controls, support for Chrome extensions, and even integration with artificial intelligence (AI). While it has been disabled on some versions of Windows 10, Internet Explorer 11 desktop is still supported by other Microsoft operating systems.
‘IE Mode’ on Microsoft Edge
A 2022 YouTube explainer video posted by the Microsoft Edge team explains how to use the backward compatibility “IE mode” on Edge to access legacy sites. This mode will be supported for at least until 2029 to help businesses make the transition. Microsoft said users would receive an official notification a year in advance before “IE mode” is also retired. While Microsoft allows users to access legacy websites, we don’t recommend using legacy software that no longer receives security and feature updates. Legacy software are often targeted by hackers, who seek to exploit vulnerabilities. They are also more likely to be unstable and have compatibility issues. Microsoft’s Feb. 14 update also fixes more than 70 flaws, including three zero-day vulnerabilities — one of which is actively being exploited. In October 2022, Microsoft also released a patch for 98 flaws, including one zero-day vulnerability, just as the company announced it will stop releasing security updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. It’s important to ensure every software you’re using is up-to-date. We recommend enabling automatic updates, so you don’t miss out on vital security patches. While Microsoft Edge is a great browser, it’s not rated highly by cybersecurity and privacy experts. For our picks, check out our article on the best browsers for privacy.
