Editing Removal of Internet Explorer (section)

{{Short description|Process of removing Internet Explorer}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
The idea of the '''removal of Internet Explorer''' (IE) from [[Windows]] was proposed during the ''[[United States v. Microsoft Corp. (2001)|United States v. Microsoft Corp.]]'' case. Later, security advocates{{Who|date = January 2014}} took up the idea as a way to protect Windows systems from attacks via IE [[Security vulnerability|vulnerabilities]].

The process of removing [[Internet Explorer]] from a personal computer has changed over the browser's version history, but the nature of many of its upgrades and installation methods has been a matter of public interest. The first version to be included was [[Internet Explorer 2|version 2]] with [[Windows 95]] in late 1996. Later, users who upgraded to IE3 (which came out in 1996), could still use the last IE, because the installation converted the previous version to a separate directory.<ref>"By having IE3 rename your previous version, Microsoft gives you a fallback in case IE3 crashes. IE3 also scans for Netscape bookmarks and converts them to IE3 favorites." [https://archive.today/20120630010046/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/2801/internet-explorer-30.html]</ref> However, Internet Explorer 4 created a controversy with its shell integration with [[Windows Explorer]]. With later versions, removal (or inability to do so) became more complicated. With the release of [[Internet Explorer 7]], shell integration began being reduced, such as changing [[ActiveX]] hosting and a different look than Windows Explorer.

It was proposed that a special version of [[Windows 7]], Windows 7 E, would be shipped without Internet Explorer in Europe as a result of [[European Union Microsoft competition case|EU antitrust investigations]] against Microsoft.<ref name="Win7PreOrder">{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/buy/offers/pre-order.aspx|title=Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=July 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819180937/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/shop/windows-7|archive-date=August 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="BBCNoIEWin7">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8096701.stm|title=No IE onboard Windows 7 in Europe|date=June 12, 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=July 15, 2009|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731035213/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8096701.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ArsTechnicaNoIEWIn7">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/06/windows-7-to-be-shipped-in-europe-sans-internet-explorer.ars|title=Windows 7 to be shipped in Europe without Internet Explorer|date=June 11, 2009|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]|access-date=July 15, 2009|archive-date=September 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901162157/http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/06/windows-7-to-be-shipped-in-europe-sans-internet-explorer/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GuardianNoIEWin7">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/jun/12/windows-7-internet-explorer|title=European version of Windows 7 will not include browser|last=John|first=Bobbie|date=June 12, 2009|publisher=[[guardian.co.uk]]|access-date=July 15, 2009|archive-date=February 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218225559/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/jun/12/windows-7-internet-explorer|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in July 2009, Microsoft canceled the Windows 7 E editions due to negative reactions from computer manufacturers.<ref name="neowin-noE">{{cite web|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-scraps-windows-7-e-version-for-europe|title=Microsoft scraps Windows 7 'E' version for Europe|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=August 1, 2009|publisher=Neowin|access-date=August 1, 2009|archive-date=September 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911021519/http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-scraps-windows-7-e-version-for-europe|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Microsoft released [[Microsoft Edge Legacy|Microsoft Edge [Legacy]]] based on [[EdgeHTML]] on launch along with [[Windows 10]]. Later, in 2020 a [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]]-based [[Microsoft Edge|[New] Edge]] was released and replaced IE's status as the default browser in Windows 10. IE 11 is still available and preinstalled on Windows 10, but users setting up their computers for the first time have to actively seek it from the Windows Accessories folder in the Start menu since it is not pinned to the taskbar by default.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/microsoft-edge#qPIJ6ZYCTVqSpM44.97|website=microsoft.com|publisher=Microsoft|title=Microsoft Edge|access-date=March 5, 2017|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115163149/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/microsoft-edge#qPIJ6ZYCTVqSpM44.97|url-status=live}}</ref> The main reason for keeping Internet Explorer in Windows 10 is to run websites based on legacy HTML technologies which are not or improperly supported in [[Microsoft Edge (series of web browsers)|Microsoft Edge]].

On May 19, 2021, Microsoft announced that Internet Explorer will be no longer supported on June 15, 2022{{efn|Retirement does not affect Windows 10 [[Long-term support|LTSC]] or their [[Windows Server|Server counterparts']] Internet Explorer 11 desktop applications. [[MSHTML]] (Trident) engine was also unaffected.}} and as part of transition, '''IE mode''' will be available on the new Microsoft Edge which allows launch older ActiveX controls and legacy websites until at least 2029.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lyndersay|first=Sean|date=May 19, 2021|title=The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/05/19/the-future-of-internet-explorer-on-windows-10-is-in-microsoft-edge/|url-status=live|access-date=May 19, 2021|website=Windows Experience Blog|language=en-US|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519170326/https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/05/19/the-future-of-internet-explorer-on-windows-10-is-in-microsoft-edge/}}</ref> Internet Explorer was removed upon the release of [[Windows 11]], although it was disabled and some of its files are still stored in Windows' [[Program Files]] folder. Users that are trying to run <code>iexplore.exe</code> via [[Run command]] will be redirected to Microsoft Edge.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=June 21, 2021|title=Windows 11 is deleting Internet Explorer|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550714/microsoft-windows-11-internet-explorer-disabled|url-status=live|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=[[The Verge]]|language=en|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625191016/https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550714/microsoft-windows-11-internet-explorer-disabled}}</ref> Additionally, if it is run for the first time since the release of Edge Chromium, IE11 will now open a new tab that redirects to Edge's website, with a notice that "some websites no longer support Internet Explorer". Internet Explorer is also disabled on Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel after installing the February 14, 2023 security update. Visual references of the browser were originally designated to be removed on Windows 10 on June 13, 2023,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=2022-06-13 |title=Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613223618/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |archive-date=2022-06-13 |access-date=2022-06-13 |publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> however on May 19, 2023, Microsoft withdrew the change due to objection by organizations.<ref name=":0" /> 

Since mid-2023, around a year after IE was retired, the [[MSN.com|MSN website]] has removed all compatibility with Internet Explorer, resulting in a fallback experience on IE11.