The Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) browser is retiring. This was once the largest browser, so there are websites that only work optimally within this program. What does the future hold for everyone who still uses IE (perhaps out of necessity)?
After nearly 27 years of service, the curtain falls for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. As of today, Microsoft officially supports the program not anymore†This applies to all versions of Windows that appeared after the Windows 10 October 2020 Update. This means that the browser will no longer receive software and security updates.
You can continue to use the browser – for now – if you want to, but the chances are slim that you will. According to the Statcounter website, which tracks operating system and browser usage, only 0.45 percent of Internet users still use Microsoft’s legacy browsers.
The curtain falls for Internet Explorer
It’s no surprise that Internet Explorer is now retiring. Microsoft has been preparing users for this for over two years. Last year, Microsoft took some extra steps away from IE to focus more on the Edge browser. That is a modern browser from Microsoft, which is built on Chromium; a platform on which Google has also built Chrome. Microsoft is marketing Edge as a faster, safer and more functional alternative to IE, but there are still people who – sometimes out of necessity – use the browser.
Some websites are specially built for Internet Explorer and do not work or work less well in browsers of competing parties. Very often he deals with corporate websites or business on a company intranet; important parts within an internal business process that are not yet prepared for a future without IP.
In order to let those people do their job, Microsoft is making it possible to continue using Internet Explorer for the time being. But keep in mind that this may change in the near future.
Internet Explorer Mode in Edge
Now that support is officially gone, you as a user have to take into account that you are on your own if something goes wrong. In addition, Microsoft is actively trying to redirect you to the modern world of Edge, so that you use that browser in the future.
Chrome and Edge are quite similar and share a lot of features, but Edge does have an edge over Chrome when it comes to compatibility with Internet Explorer. That’s not surprising, since both browsers come from the same stable.
So what makes Edge so special? That browser has a special Internet Explorer mode. This allows you to load websites and content that are optimized for the old Microsoft browser, within a modern and secure environment. Some websites load the mode automatically, but in other cases you have to activate the mode manually.
Does this mean you can now uninstall the Internet Explorer app from your Windows system? If you’re sure you don’t need any special websites for your work, the answer is yes. For a handful of users it is useful to simply leave the program alone. The IE mode of Edge only works when the browser itself is still installed, since it uses components from that browser. And when the browser disappears, so does the functionality.
Search for alternatives
The Internet Explorer mode within Microsoft Edge will not last forever. Microsoft says that this mode will be supported until at least 2029. After that, as a company, or as an inveterate user, you really have to look for an alternative (but preferably sooner, of course). A year before Microsoft pulls the plug on IE mode, you as a user will receive a notification.
The coming months will be marked by a transition period. For now, Microsoft is still concentrating on transferring users left behind so that they will use Edge. Redirecting to that browser is also cascaded, giving corporate administrators time to identify and address any issues. It is not the case that IE is disabled during this phase of the process, but Microsoft does recommend using a different browser.
However, you should keep in mind that you will no longer be able to start Internet Explorer over time. When you try that, you’ll automatically open Edge. Only in the second phase does Microsoft disable IE completely. This is done via an update that is released via Windows Update. The Redmond-based company has not yet announced when that will happen.
Meet Edge
Are you not that familiar with Microsoft Edge yet and do you want to? At Computer!Totaal we have already written a lot of article about Microsoft’s browser. For example, read this article full of Edge tips or read how you can make Edge faster. It is also possible to set the browser as the default PDF reader.
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