Microsoft officially discontinued Internet Explorer in 2015. A few years later, the company disabled IE in Windows 11, making it the first version of Windows without the browser in 20 years. IE had a reputation for being slow, prone to security breaches, and not as modern as other browsers, so the decision seemed natural. Regardless, you can still use the browser on Windows 11 with a few workarounds. This guide discusses some of these methods.
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Reasons to run Internet Explorer on Windows 11
While Internet Explorer has received its fair share of criticism in the past, there are actually several reasons it might be worth considering for Windows 11 users.
- Better integration with Microsoft products: Internet Explorer integrates better with Microsoft products, such as Office and OneDrive, because it allows direct access and editing of OneDrive files in the browser without downloading to your PC.
- Browsing legacy sites: Some government websites developed using outdated software or apps may only be accessible in Internet Explorer. You may need IE to browse these old sites.
- Enterprise level support: For companies using Windows 11, Internet Explorer offers enterprise support features, such as Group Policy management for system administrators. This allows users to control browser settings across devices.
- proficiency: Although Internet Explorer may not be the most secure or private browser, for some users, it is still a familiar and established web browser that they have been using for years. If this describes you, you may be more comfortable navigating and browsing your favorite sites in IE.
Security concerns about running IE on Windows 11
If you decide to bring IE back to your Windows 11 PC, keep in mind that it may not be completely safe to do so. Be aware of these security concerns before making a final decision:
- Vulnerable to hacker attacks: Internet Explorer is an outdated web browser with many security flaws and weaknesses. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to maintain strong security measures due to its outdated architecture.
- Lack of support: Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, and no longer offers security updates or technical support. It also makes IE more vulnerable to attacks and leads to a lack of must-have modern features, such as private browsing mode.
- User experience: Internet Explorer’s performance has been unsatisfactory for many years due to its interface, slow speed for some heavy processing sites, and limited features compared to modern browsers.
How to start Internet Explorer in Windows 11
If you want to bring back Internet Explorer in Windows 11, you have several options, as detailed below.
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1. Enable IE mode in Edge
- Launch Microsoft Edge.
- Click on the three dots in the upper left corner.
- From the pop-up menu, scroll down and click “Settings”.
- Click on “Default browser” in the settings options.
- On the right, you’ll see the option “Let Internet Explorer open websites in Microsoft Edge” under “Internet Explorer Compatibility”. Click on “Incompatible sites only” in the dropdown menu.
- Click “Enable” in the drop-down menu next to “Allow reloading of sites in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode).”
- Restart Microsoft Edge by clicking “Restart” to apply the changes you made.
- Manually reload websites in Internet Explorer by right-clicking the tab and clicking the “Reload in Internet Explorer Mode” tab.
- Another way to open websites in IE with Edge is by adding them to “Internet Explorer Status Pages”.
- Go to Microsoft Edge settings and click on “Default browser”.
- Click the “Add” button next to “Internet Explorer Status Pages” on the right.
- Enter the URL in the pop-up dialog box that appears and click “Add”.
2. Create a VBS shortcut
- Click the Start menu and search for “Notepad.”
- Start the Notepad application and enter the following command:
CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application").Visible=true
- Select “File -> Save As”.
- Save the file with a VBS extension by typing “.vbs” after the file name and making sure everything is in quotation marks, then click “Save”.
- Locate the file on your computer. Right-click on it and hover over “Send To” and click “Desktop (Create Shortcut).”
- Right-click on the desktop icon and click “Properties”.
- Click the “Change Icon” button on the “Shortcut” tab.
- Select the “Internet Explorer” icon and click “OK”. Click “OK” again to save the changes.
- Double-click the “Internet Explorer” icon on your desktop to launch IE.
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3. Use optional features in the control panel (client systems only)
- Open the Start menu and go to “Settings”.
- Select “Apps” in the left sidebar and click “Optional Features” in the right side menu.
- Look for “Internet Explorer Mode” under “Installed Features”.
- If you can’t find Internet Explorer mode, it might be disabled on your computer. To enable it, click the “Show Features” button next to “Add Optional Feature” at the top of the screen.
- Find Internet Explorer mode in the list of optional features. Click the small box next to its name and click “Next”.
- Restart your computer to complete the installation process.
4. Use Windows Features in Control Panel (Client Systems Only)
- to press Ctrl + shift + Output to open the task manager.
- Open the drop-down menu labeled “File” and click “Run New Task.”
- Type
cmd
In the Create New Task dialog box. Check the option “Create this task with administrative privileges” and click “OK”.
- Type the following command in cmd:
dism /online /Add-Capability/CapabilityName:Browser.InternetExplorer~~~~0.0.11.0
- Restart your device, and the browser should be waiting for you.
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5. Try the internet options
- Click the Start icon, search for “Internet Options” and click the best match.
- Click the “Programs” tab in the window that appears and click the “Manage Extensions” button.
- Click “Learn more about toolbars and plugins” in the lower left corner of the new window.
- Once it’s done, Internet Explorer will launch.
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Common questions
Is Internet Explorer running at full capacity on Windows 11?
Internet Explorer can work on Windows 11 but not at full capacity. Even if you install it using different methods, it is not fully compatible with the operating system. On top of that, Microsoft ended its support in 2022, so it might not be the most secure option to use.
Is Internet Explorer still available for download?
Is IE mode better than Internet Explorer?
IE Mode in Microsoft Edge is better than Internet Explorer because it improves the compatibility of legacy sites. It also offers a better user experience with improved performance, security and updated features.
Image credit: Freeiconspng. All screenshots by Ojesh Yadav.
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