Today is the day. After 25+ years, Microsoft is finally ending the support for Internet Explorer (IE) web browser. Microsoft Edge is the official replacement for Internet Explorer on Windows. Unlike IE, Microsoft Edge is built on the open-source Chromium web engine which was founded by Google.
In order to support the websites that still rely on Internet Explorer’s specific behaviors and features, Microsoft Edge comes with Internet Explorer mode (IE mode).
Because of IE end of support, here’s what will happen over the next few months:
- Opening Internet Explorer will progressively redirect users to our new modern browser, Microsoft Edge with IE mode.
- Users will still see the Internet Explorer icon on their devices (such as on the taskbar or in the Start menu) but if they click to open Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge will open instead with easy access to IE mode.
- Eventually, Internet Explorer will be disabled permanently as part of a future Windows Update, at which point the Internet Explorer icons on users’ devices will be removed.
Microsoft also allows users to import favorites, passwords and settings from Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge. Also, the end of support is only for consumers who use IE web browser. Developers who rely on the MSHTML (Trident) platform and COM controls on Windows will continue to be supported on all Windows platforms.
There are some exceptions to the above IE retirement news:
- In-support Windows 10 LTSC releases (including IoT) and all Windows Server versions
- Windows 10 China Government Edition
- Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 with Extended Security Updates (ESUs)
On the above platforms, Microsoft will continue to support Internet Explorer.
If you have ever used IE to explore the internet, we want to share our deepest thanks for being a part of this journey with us – Microsoft
