Microsoft will shut down Internet Explorer next week

Most of us are familiar with and have used Microsoft’s first web browser, Internet Explorer. Despite being one of the earliest commercially accessible web browsers, the browser has become somewhat antiquated over time. Now that Microsoft has officially put everything to rest, here’s everything you need to know.

Internet Explorer will be phased out by Microsoft soon.

Microsoft revealed the web browser’s retirement schedule last year after ending support for Microsoft 365 on Internet Explorer in August 2020. According to the Redmond behemoth, most versions of Windows 10 will discontinue supporting Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022.

As a result, you won’t be able to use Internet Explorer after next week, and those who do will be moved to the Edge browser. Last year, Microsoft published an official blog post detailing the consequences of IE’s retirement.

Internet Explorer’s demise isn’t surprising since the web browser has struggled to keep up with rivals like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and even Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge browser. 

Consequently, Microsoft included an IE mode within Edge and pushed Windows users to switch to it before the traditional Internet Explorer software for desktops was retired.

It’s also worth mentioning that, although the Internet Explorer 11 desktop software will no longer support most versions of Windows 10, it will continue to support Windows 8.1, Windows 7 ESU, Windows SAC, and Windows 10 IoT LTSC. 

Furthermore, users who want to utilize Internet Explorer on unsupported Windows versions may use Edge Chromium’s dedicated IE mode to load outdated websites and programs that aren’t compatible with Edge or other Chromium-based browsers.

If you’re interested, we have complete step-by-step instructions on activating IE mode in Edge. Otherwise, after IE’s demise in the coming days, you may use Edge or any other contemporary browser on your desktop. Also, let us know what you think of Microsoft’s decision to shut down Internet Explorer in the comments below.