Editor's note: Questions in this FAQ will be added and/or updated over time to provide more detail. Updated/new questions are indicated below. Last updated: June 13, 2022.
The future of Internet Explorer (“IE”) on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. What does this mean for commercial organizations, IT admins, developers, and end users? Microsoft Edge brings you a faster, more secure, and more modern web experience than Internet Explorer. Also, Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”), is the only browser with built-in compatibility for legacy IE-based sites and apps.
As announced today, Microsoft Edge with IE mode is officially replacing the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application on Windows 10. As a result, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will go out of support and be retired on June 15, 2022 for certain versions of Windows 10.
Jump to: General information | How to prepare | Experience after retirement | Support and resources | Technical details
Which platforms will be affected when the IE11 desktop application is retired and goes out of support on June 15, 2022? (Updated: June 13, 2022)
In scope at the time of this announcement (will be retired):
Out of scope at the time of this announcement (unaffected):
What about Windows 10 LTSC and Windows Server? (Updated: November 19, 2021)
In-market Windows 10 LTSC and Windows Server are out of scope (unaffected) for this change. Windows Server 2022 and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 are also out of scope.
What happens once the IE11 desktop application retires on June 15, 2022? When will the IE11 desktop application be disabled? (Updated: June 13, 2022)
Internet Explorer (IE) retires on June 15, 2022, after which IE will be out of support.
IE will be retired in two phases to ensure a quality driven retirement. During the first phase, the redirection phase, devices will be progressively redirected from IE to Microsoft Edge over the next few months after June 15, 2022. Following industry best practices, this progressive redirection will be quality-driven to ensure a smooth IE11 retirement for you and your organization. To minimize the level of potential business disruption within an organization at one time, not all devices will be redirected at the same time. This approach is designed so that you can quickly identify and resolve any potential issues, such as missed sites, before all devices within your organization are redirected. The intent is for the redirection phase for all devices with Windows platforms that are in-scope for IE retirement to be complete in the next few months.
Note: Windows Updates are not used to redirect devices during the redirection phase. We do not recommend skipping Windows Updates as they contain critical operating system security patches.
The second phase of retirement is the Windows Update phase. After the redirection phase completes, IE will be permanently disabled through a future Windows Update on all devices with Windows platforms that are in-scope for IE retirement. It will follow the standard Windows update process as part of an optional preview “C” release followed by a “B” Patch Tuesday release. Given the cumulative nature of Windows Updates, IE disablement will persist in subsequent Windows Updates.
We highly recommend that you apply the Disable IE Policy in your own environment on your own schedule, so you can control your own permanent disablement of IE.
Should I just uninstall Internet Explorer completely? (New: May 25, 2022)
No. Internet Explorer (IE) mode relies on Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) to function. Uninstalling or removing IE11 will cause IE mode to no longer work.
The best way to prepare for IE disablement after June 15, is to proactively retire IE in your organization before June 15.
Read our blog post for more details on how to approach this.
Is the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application available on Windows 11?(Updated: April 14, 2022)
No, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application is not available on Windows 11. Microsoft Edge is the default browser for Windows 11. The MSHTML engine exists as part of the Windows 11 operating system to power IE mode in Microsoft Edge. If your organization has legacy browser dependencies, you’ll need to set up IE mode in Microsoft Edge before upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid business disruption. Learn more on our Internet Explorer mode webpage and read the Getting Started guide.
What does this announcement mean for my organization?
If your organization has legacy apps and sites dependent on IE11, you can follow the Getting Started Guide to start configuring IE mode. You may be concerned about change management, so please check out the Internet Explorer Retirement Adoption Kit for ready-made content to help you notify users and leaders in your organization about the upcoming changes and help move them to Microsoft Edge.
What if Microsoft Edge is already installed?
Great! You already have a faster, more secure, and more modern browser than Internet Explorer and have completed some of the steps to help with your migration. If you're an organization, the next steps will be to determine if your organization has legacy browser dependencies. To enable legacy browser support in Microsoft Edge, you'll need to set up Internet Explorer mode. Learn more on our Internet Explorer mode webpage and read the Getting Started guide.
How long will IE mode be supported? (Updated: February 22, 2022)
Support for IE mode follows the lifecycle of current and future Windows client, Windows server, and Windows IoT releases (including Windows 11) at least through 2029. Additionally, Microsoft will give one year of notice before retiring the IE mode experience when the time comes. Windows support dates are documented on the Product Lifecycle page. Some editions of Windows may require an ESU license, if available, to receive operating system security updates beyond end of support dates.
If support for a version of Windows ends before 2029, support for IE mode on that version of Windows ends as well. To continue using IE mode, please migrate to a supported version of Windows.
End of service dates for currently supported versions of Windows are as follows:
Platform | Windows release | IE mode end of support |
Windows client | Windows 10 Enterprise, version 20H2 | 5/9/2023 |
Windows 10 Enterprise, version 2004 | 12/14/2021 | |
Windows 10 2019 LTSC | 1/9/2029 | |
Windows 8.1 | 1/10/2023 | |
Windows 7 (ESU required)* | 1/15/2023 | |
Windows Server | Windows Server, version 20H2 (SAC) | 5/10/2022 |
Windows Server, version 2004 (SAC) | 12/14/2021 | |
Windows Server 2019 (LTSC) | 1/9/2029 | |
Windows IoT | Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, version 20H2 | 5/9/2023 |
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, version 2004 | 12/14/2021 | |
Windows 10 IoT 2019 LTSC | 1/9/2029 | |
Windows Server IoT 2019 | 1/9/2029 |
* Microsoft Edge support on Window 7 ends on January 15, 2023. IE mode support also ends at that time. The IE11 desktop application will continue to be supported as part of the Windows 7 ESU until the operating system's end of support date of January 10, 2023.
What does this announcement mean for developers? (Updated: November 19, 2021)
Websites developed for IE should work in Microsoft Edge through IE mode. If you encounter an issue, contact App Assure for remediation assistance (ACHELP@microsoft.com).
For developers working on modern websites or applications, we understand that it has been increasingly difficult to support Internet Explorer side-by-side with modern browsers. While this announcement will start the transition of moving users from Internet Explorer to the more modern Microsoft Edge browser, it will take time and we recommend that you develop a plan to end support for Internet Explorer. Read this Moving users to Microsoft Edge from Internet Explorer article to learn how we can help.
What does this announcement mean for end users?(Updated: February 22, 2022)
With a growing number of websites no longer supporting Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge offers a faster, more secure, and more modern browsing experience that can still open legacy, Internet Explorer-dependent sites when needed.
After the Internet Explorer desktop application is retired on June 15, 2022, it will be out of support. Additionally, the IE11 desktop application will be disabled through a future Windows 10 cumulative monthly update and will redirect to Microsoft Edge if a user tries to access it.
How do I set up Internet Explorer mode in my organization?
You can get detailed guidance on how to set up Internet Explorer mode through our Getting Started guide or by visiting our IE mode documentation.
Are there any guided experiences available to help me deploy Microsoft Edge and configure IE mode? (New: June 29, 2021)
Yes, we have two guided experiences available in the Microsoft 365 admin center to help you deploy Microsoft Edge and configure IE mode.
How can I automate IE mode testing in Microsoft Edge?(New: February 22, 2022)
With IE11 retirement fast approaching, Microsoft has collaborated with Selenium to extend end-to-end IE Driver testing to include IE mode in Microsoft Edge. You can now take the same tests you've invested in and used for site testing across versions of IE and apply them for testing in IE mode. Running automated testing, combined with testing through a pilot group of users, can catch issues early and can help make sure you're ready for IE retirement.
For more information about how IE Driver can be used for IE mode testing, see Use Internet Explorer Driver to automate IE mode in Microsoft Edge.
If I reach out to Microsoft for an exception to this timeline, can I continue to use the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application after June 15, 2022?
Microsoft Edge provides a dual engine advantage of Internet Explorer mode for compatibility with legacy websites and the Chromium project–the technology that powers many of today's browsers–for world-class compatibility and performance with modern websites.
As such, we're not allowing exceptions or providing extended support to continue using the IE11 desktop application on the in-scope platforms after June 15, 2022.
For those using IE11 at home, you can run IE mode in Microsoft Edge by following the steps outlined on this support page: Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge.
Commercial IT pros will need to set up IE mode in Microsoft Edge to enable access to legacy IE-based sites and apps for their commercial users. To set up IE mode, use the resources in the Getting Started guide.
Could I skip monthly cumulative security Windows Updates to keep using IE11?(New: April 14, 2022)
We do not recommend avoiding or skipping Windows updates to keep IE11, as Windows updates contain critical operating system security patches. Learn more about Windows cumulative monthly updates.
What happens once the IE11 desktop application retires on June 15, 2022? When will the IE11 desktop application be disabled? (Updated: June 13, 2022)
Internet Explorer (IE) retires on June 15, 2022, after which IE will be out of support.
IE will be retired in two phases to ensure a quality driven retirement. During the first phase, the redirection phase, devices will be progressively redirected from IE to Microsoft Edge over the next few months after June 15, 2022. Following industry best practices, this progressive redirection will be quality-driven to ensure a smooth IE11 retirement for you and your organization. To minimize the level of potential business disruption within an organization at one time, not all devices will be redirected at the same time. This approach is designed so that you can quickly identify and resolve any potential issues, such as missed sites, before all devices within your organization are redirected. The intent is for the redirection phase for all devices with Windows platforms that are in-scope for IE retirement to be complete in the next few months.
Note: Windows Updates are not used to redirect devices during the redirection phase. We do not recommend skipping Windows Updates as they contain critical operating system security patches.
The second phase of retirement is the Windows Update phase. After the redirection phase completes, IE will be permanently disabled through a future Windows Update on all devices with Windows platforms that are in-scope for IE retirement. It will follow the standard Windows update process as part of an optional preview “C” release followed by a “B” Patch Tuesday release. Given the cumulative nature of Windows Updates, IE disablement will persist in subsequent Windows Updates.
We highly recommend that you apply the Disable IE Policy in your own environment on your own schedule, so you can control your own permanent disablement of IE.
Will Windows updates be used to redirect devices during the redirection phase in the few months following June 15, 2022?(New: June 13, 2022)
No, Windows Updates will not be used to redirect devices during the redirection phase. We do not recommend skipping Windows Updates as they contain critical operating system security patches. After the redirection phase completes, there will be a Windows Update phase where the IE11 desktop application will be permanently disabled via a future Windows Update.
Will all my devices be redirected at the same time during the Redirection phase? And will I be notified when the devices are redirected?(New: June 13, 2022)
During the first phase, the redirection phase, devices will be progressively redirected from IE to Microsoft Edge over the next few months after June 15, 2022. Following industry best practices, this progressive redirection will be quality-driven to ensure a smooth IE11 retirement for you and your organization. To minimize the level of potential business disruption within an organization at one time, not all devices will be redirected at the same time. This approach is designed so that you can quickly identify and resolve any potential issues, such as missed sites, before all devices within your organization are redirected. The intent is for the redirection phase for all devices with Windows platforms that are in-scope for IE retirement to be complete in the next few months.
As part of our quality-driven approach, we are not able to provide specific redirection dates to organizations because not all devices within an organization will be redirected at the same time.
What will the user experience be after the IE11 desktop app is retired? What is the difference in user experience between the redirection phase and the Windows Update phase? ((Updated: June 13, 2022)
Starting June 15, 2022, the IE11 desktop app will be progressively redirected to Microsoft Edge over the next few months. This is the redirection phase.
During the redirection phase, users will experience the following:
The second phase of retirement is the Windows Update phase. After the redirection phase completes, IE will be permanently disabled through a future Windows Update on all devices with Windows platforms that are in-scope for IE retirement.
The user experience after receiving the Windows Update during the Windows Update phase is almost identical to that of the redirection phase, except regarding the IE icons which will be removed:
The IE11 icon on the Start Menu and taskbar will be removed.
When users try to launch shortcuts or file associations that use IE11, they will be redirected to open the same file/URL in Microsoft Edge.
When users try to launch IE11 by directly invoking the iexplore.exe binary, Microsoft Edge will launch instead.
Existing IE user data (e.g. Favorites, passwords, etc.) will not be cleared from CDS (IE's data store) and can be imported into Microsoft Edge even after the Windows update.
We recommend using the Disable IE policy in your organization to implement redirection yourself and prepare your organization, as it provides the closest approximation to experiences in the redirection and Windows Update phases.
If my browser default isn't Internet Explorer 11, will the retirement affect my browser default?
No, this retirement will only change your browser default if your default had been set to Internet Explorer 11. If IE11 is set as your browser default, you will now have Microsoft Edge.
Will the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application be removed from devices? (Updated: June 13, 2022)
No, the IE11 desktop application will only be disabled. The IE11 desktop application will not be removed from devices, as the IE11 engine is required for IE mode to function.
Will iexplore.exe be removed from devices?
No, but if a user tries to access it, they will be unable to open IE11 and will be redirected to Microsoft Edge.
Will Internet Explorer-based sites and apps open automatically in Microsoft Edge after the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application is retired on June 15, 2022? (Updated: May 25, 2022)
After the IE11 desktop application is retired and goes out of support on June 15, 2022, the IE desktop application will be progressively redirected to Microsoft Edge over the following months, and ultimately disabled via Windows Update, to help ensure a smooth retirement..
Organizations can still access legacy, Internet Explorer-based websites and apps with IE mode in Microsoft Edge. To learn more about setting up IE mode, check out the Getting Started Guide.
General end users who need to open older, Internet Explorer-based websites, can manually enable IE mode and reload those websites by following the steps in this Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge support article.
When IE is disabled by Windows update, will it first appear in an optional preview “C” release? (New: April 14, 2022)
Yes, when IE is disabled, it will follow the standard Windows update process, beginning first in an optional preview “C” release, followed then by the “B” release. Given the cumulative nature of Windows Updates, IE disablement will persist in subsequent updates.
Where can I read all the blogs in IE to Edge series? (New: May 25, 2022)
You can read all the blogs written for the IE to Edge blog series at https://aka.ms/IEtoEdge.
Are there any changes to the Microsoft Edge lifecycle?
There are no changes to the Microsoft Edge lifecycle. Microsoft Edge continues to be supported. For more details, please visit the Microsoft Edge Lifecycle page.
I thought that Internet Explorer 11 would be supported for the life of the OS that the browser was installed on? Have you shortened your support? (New: June 3, 2021)
Note: This retirement statement applies to the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application delivered via the Semi-annual Channel. In-market Windows 10 LTSC and Windows Server releases are out of scope (unaffected) for this change. For the full list of in scope and out of scope items, please see earlier in this FAQ.
For the IE 11 desktop application on platforms affected by this announcement, the intent of the policy has stayed the same, but the specific component supported in the Lifecycle Policy has changed. Previously, the component supported was Internet Explorer, the browser application. Because the future of Internet Explorer is now in Microsoft Edge with the Internet Explorer mode feature, the component that is now supported is Internet Explorer mode.
IE mode support follows the previous policy statement and matches the same support timeframe outlined for the Internet Explorer browser application. IE mode will remain supported through at least 2029, following the lifecycle policy for the product (Windows operating system) on which it was installed.
What if some of my sites don't work in Microsoft Edge using Internet Explorer mode? How do I get help for website compatibility issues?
If you're an organization and experience compatibility issues such as an error loading a site, please connect with the App Assure team for remediation assistance. You can submit a request for assistance through their website or reach out via email (ACHELP@microsoft.com).
If you're a consumer at home and encounter an error loading a page, try loading it in IE mode by following the instructions in this Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge support article. If the issue persists, please notify us by sending feedback through the in-product feedback tool found in the three-dot settings menu under ‘Help and feedback' or by using the shortcut Alt + Shift + I. When submitting feedback, please check the box to ‘Send diagnostic data'.
Where can I see a roadmap of upcoming Microsoft Edge features, including those related to IE mode? (New: June 29, 2021)
You can find the Microsoft Edge roadmap as part of the Microsoft 365 roadmap.
Where can I get help with common issues when setting up Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer mode? Is there a Troubleshooting Guide? (New: February 22, 2022)
If you encounter an issue when setting up IE mode, you can reference this Troubleshooting Guide. It provides troubleshooting tips for common issues (like using incorrect Doc modes and not setting neutral sites) in addition to more general IE mode FAQs.
Supporting IE mode through at least 2029 is not long enough. Can I get an extension?
IE mode will continue to be supported through at least 2029 and Microsoft will give one year notice before deprecating the IE mode experience in-market when the time comes.
The new Cloud Site List Management experience will enable IT to store site lists in an authenticated endpoint in the cloud instead of requiring on-premises infrastructure to host it. You can create, import, and export site lists, as well as audit changes to site list entries through the Microsoft 365 admin center. Multiple site lists can be published to the cloud and group policy can be used to assign different groups of devices to use different lists.
What is the MSHTML (Trident) engine? How does that relate to IE mode? And what about WebOC? Or the MSHTA app?
The MSHTML (Trident) engine is the underlying platform for Internet Explorer 11. This is the same engine used by IE mode and it will continue to be supported (in other words, unaffected by this announcement). Both WebOC and the MSHTA app will continue to be supported as they rely on the MSHTML engine which is unaffected by this announcement. If you have a custom or third-party app that relies on the MSHTML platform, you can expect it to continue to work. For future app development, we recommend using WebView2.
I ran into issues with my application which utilizes IE through automation. Will this be fixed? (Updated: May 25, 2022)
As part of the IE 11 application retirement, certain COM automation scenarios were inadvertently broken. These IE COM objects have been restored to their original functionality as of the Windows 11 November 2021 “C” update and the Windows 10 February 2022 “B” update (for versions 1809 and later). The COM scenarios will also continue to work after the IE11 desktop application is disabled after June 15, 2022. If you continue to experience issues after taking the update, please contact App Assure for remediation assistance.
What IE functionality is available in IE mode? Will Active X controls like Java and Silverlight be supported? (Updated: June 3, 2021)
IE mode supports all document and enterprise modes, Active X controls (such as Java or Silverlight), and more. For a list of what is supported and what is not supported, see the What is Internet Explorer (IE) mode Docs page.
As previously announced, Silverlight support ends on October 12, 2021. Please see the Silverlight End of Support article for more details.
Will the IE Group Policies work in IE mode?
We are committed to have IE Group Policies work in IE mode. If for any reason you encounter an issue, please connect with us at AppAssure for assistance. You can submit a request for assistance through their website or reach out via email (ACHELP@microsoft.com).
Can I host my site list in the cloud? What is the Cloud Site List Management experience for IE mode? (New: November 19, 2021)
Yes, the Cloud Site List Management experience is now available as a Public Preview within the Microsoft 365 admin center.
.mht and .mhtml files open in Internet Explorer 11 and not in Microsoft Edge. How will I be able to open those? (New: June 29, 2021)
.mht and .mhtml file support in Microsoft Edge and IE mode is planned for Microsoft Edge version 92. Please see the Microsoft 365 roadmap entry for more details. Please note that for these files to open in IE mode, IE11 must be set as the default handler for this file type.
Since IE binaries are required for IE mode and will remain on the OS, will they continue to receive security updates? (New: February 22, 2022)
Yes, since IE mode leverages IE binaries, those IE binaries will continue to receive security updates through at least 2029 even after the IE11 desktop application retires and goes out of support on June 15, 2022, on certain versions of Windows 10. Security vulnerabilities that meet MSRC guidelines will continue to be patched just as it does today.
Can cookies share session information between Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) and IE mode (MSHTML-based) sessions? (Updated: June 13, 2022)
Yes! Previously, session-cookies in IE mode passed session information from sites using the modern engine to sites using the legacy engine, but the same couldn't be said for the reverse. To address this issue, Microsoft Edge with IE mode now allows you to manually set session-cookies to share in both directions—from modern to legacy and vice versa—to create a better experience for your users and to support using a mix of modern and legacy sites as part of your gradual modernization efforts (Windows March 2022 3B update or later and Microsoft Edge version 99 or later, required).
Please note, that persistent-cookies, which have been created with an Expires-attribute, cannot be shared between Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.
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