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Microsoft to Retire Internet Explorer 11 June 15th, 2022

By Brian Burgess

Published May 19, 2021

Microsoft is finally set to retire Internet Explorer 11 from Windows 10 on June 15th of next year.

Microsoft today announced that it plans to retire its Internet Explorer 11 web browser finally. You probably didn’t even know it is still included with Windows 10, but it is. The aging browser has mainly still been part of Windows 10 due to small business proprietary app compatibility. But Microsoft will finally put the nail in the IE coffin on July 15^th, 2022. It will do this in favor of its new and growing Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge. Edge has compatibility for older, legacy sites and apps (IE Mode) built-in.

Microsoft Retiring Internet Explorer 11 Next Year

In a blog post today, Microsoft exec Sean Lyndersay notes the following:

We are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications. Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge. With Microsoft Edge capable of assuming this responsibility and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10.

It’s worth noting that this doesn’t affect Windows 10 customers on the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). But consumer version will see an end to the support of IE 11. The so-called “IE Mode” supports older ActiveX controls and legacy sites, which some businesses actually use. Microsoft promises to support IE Mode in Edge at least through 2029.

This has been a long-time coming as the company ended support for IE 11 for the Microsoft Teams web app last year. And is planning to cut it off from Microsoft 365 services later this year.

If you want to get started with Microsoft Edge, check out some of our articles, like using the Math Solver Tool to solve complex math equations. Or, if you’re looking to help keep your young ones safe online, check out how to use the new Kids Mode.