Editing Internet Explorer (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer version history}}

===Internet Explorer 1===
[[File:Internet Explorer 1.0.png|thumb|Internet Explorer 1|right]]
[[File:Internet Explorer 2 logo.png|thumb|Logo for [[Internet Explorer 2]] ]]
The Internet Explorer project was started in the summer of 1994 by [[Thomas Reardon]],<ref name="tr35">{{cite web|title=Thomas Reardon, 34|url=http://www2.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?trid=301|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=January 18, 2015|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225080855/http://www2.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?trid=301|url-status=dead}}</ref> who, according to former project lead Ben Slivka,<ref name="slivka">{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer: A Brief History [6/2022 update]|date=May 28, 2021 |url=https://benslivka.com/2021/05/27/internet-explorer-a-brief-history/|publisher=Ben Slivka|access-date=August 7, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622193153/https://benslivka.com/2021/05/27/internet-explorer-a-brief-history/}}</ref> used source code from [[Spyglass, Inc.]] Mosaic, which was an early commercial web browser with formal ties to the pioneering [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications]] (NCSA) [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]] browser.<ref name="bw">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm |title=Microsoft's $8 Million Goodbye to Spyglass |access-date=February 9, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Elstrom |date=January 22, 1997 |website=[[Businessweek]] |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970629174318/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm |archive-date=June 29, 1997}}</ref><ref name="win">{{cite web |url=https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make |title=Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up |website=[[IT Pro]] |publisher=[[Penton (company)|Penton]] |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |date=January 22, 1997 |access-date=February 9, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919002551/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx |archive-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> In late 1994, [[Microsoft]] licensed Spyglass Mosaic for a quarterly fee plus a percentage of Microsoft's non-Windows revenues for the software.<ref name="win" /> Although bearing a name similar to NCSA Mosaic, Spyglass Mosaic had used the NCSA Mosaic source code sparingly.<ref name="ericsink1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ericsink.com/Browser_Wars.html|title=Memoirs From the Browser Wars|publisher= Ericsink.com|access-date=October 17, 2008}}</ref>

The first version, dubbed Microsoft Internet Explorer, was installed as part of the ''Internet Jumpstart Kit'' in the [[Microsoft Plus!]] pack for [[Windows 95]].<ref name="mshistory">{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx |title=The History of Internet Explorer |website=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=February 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051001113951/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx |archive-date=October 1, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Internet Explorer team began with about six people in early development.<ref name="ericsink1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2009-1032-995681.html|title=Software empire pays high price|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|work=[[CNET News]]|date=April 15, 2003|first=John|last=Borland|access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref> Internet Explorer 1.5 was released several months later for [[Windows NT]] and added support for basic table rendering. By including it free of charge with their [[operating system]], they did not have to pay royalties to Spyglass Inc, resulting in a lawsuit and a [[United States dollar|US$]]8&nbsp;million settlement on January 22, 1997.<ref name="bw" /><ref name="win" />

Microsoft was sued by SyNet Inc. in 1996, for [[trademark infringement]], claiming it owned the rights to the name "Internet Explorer".<ref name="Zdnet.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-sued-by-minnow-over-internet-explorer-name/|title=Microsoft sued by minnow over Internet Explorer name|last=Goodwins|first=Rupert|date=August 15, 1996|website=[[ZDNet]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101041746/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-sued-by-minnow-over-internet-explorer-name/|archive-date=January 1, 2016|access-date=May 30, 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref> It ended with Microsoft paying $5 million to settle the lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Microsoft Settles 'IE' Suit For $5M|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-settles-ie-suit-for-5m/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=July 2, 1998 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Internet Explorer 2 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 2}}
Internet Explorer 2 is the second major version of Internet Explorer, released on November 28, 1995, for [[Windows 95]] and [[Windows NT]], and on April 23, 1996, for [[Apple Macintosh]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chronology of Personal Computers (1996)|url=http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1995oct.htm|access-date=2024-11-27|website=www.islandnet.com}}</ref> and [[Windows 3.1]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=1996-04-30|title=Microsoft Internet Explorer Web Browser Available on All Major Platforms, Offers Broadest International Support|url=https://news.microsoft.com/1996/04/30/microsoft-internet-explorer-web-browser-available-on-all-major-platforms-offers-broadest-international-support/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Stories|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Internet Explorer 3 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 3}}
Internet Explorer 3 is the third major version of Internet Explorer, released on August 13, 1996, for Microsoft Windows and on January 8, 1997, for Apple Mac OS.

=== Internet Explorer 4 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 4}}
Internet Explorer 4 is the fourth major version of Internet Explorer, released in September 1997 for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], and [[HP-UX]]. It was the first version of Internet Explorer to use the [[Trident (software)|Trident]] web engine.

=== Internet Explorer 5 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 5}}
 
Internet Explorer 5 is the fifth major version of Internet Explorer, released on March 18, 1999, for [[Windows 3.1]], [[Windows NT 3.x|Windows NT 3]], Windows 95, [[Windows NT 4.0]] SP3, [[Windows 98]], [[MacOS|Mac OS X]] (up to v5.2.3), [[Classic Mac OS]] (up to v5.1.7), Solaris and HP-UX (up to 5.01 SP1).

=== Internet Explorer 6 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 6}}
Internet Explorer 6 is the sixth major version of Internet Explorer, released on August 24, 2001, for Windows NT 4.0 SP6a, Windows 98, [[Windows 2000]], [[Windows ME]] and as the default web browser for [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]].

=== Internet Explorer 7 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 7}}
Internet Explorer 7 is the seventh major version of Internet Explorer, released on October 18, 2006, for [[Windows XP#Service Pack 2|Windows XP SP2]], [[Windows Server 2003#Service Pack 1|Windows Server 2003 SP1]] and as the default web browser for [[Windows Vista]], [[Windows Server 2008]] and [[Windows Embedded Industry#Windows Embedded POSReady 2009|Windows Embedded POSReady 2009]]. IE7 introduces tabbed browsing.

=== Internet Explorer 8 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 8}}
Internet Explorer 8 is the eighth major version of Internet Explorer, released on March 19, 2009, for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and as the default web browser for [[Windows 7]] (later default was Internet Explorer 11) and Windows Server 2008 R2.

=== Internet Explorer 9 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 9}}
Internet Explorer 9 is the ninth major version of Internet Explorer, released on March 14, 2011, for Windows 7, [[Windows Server 2008 R2]], Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 with the [[Windows Vista Platform Update|Platform Update]].

=== Internet Explorer 10 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 10}}
Internet Explorer 10 is the tenth major version of Internet Explorer, released on October 26, 2012, and is the default web browser for [[Windows 8]] and [[Windows Server 2012]]. It became available for [[Windows 7]] SP1 and [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] SP1 in February 2013.

===Internet Explorer 11===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 11}}

Internet Explorer 11 is featured in [[Windows 8.1]], [[Windows Server 2012 R2]] and [[Windows RT|Windows RT 8.1]], which was released on October 17, 2013. It includes an incomplete mechanism for syncing tabs. It is a major update to its [[Internet Explorer Developer Tools|developer tools]],<ref name="ie11-7-preview">{{cite web|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|title=Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7|url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/internet-explorer-11-developer-preview-windows-7|work=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows|publisher=[[Penton (company)|Penton]]|access-date=July 26, 2013|date=July 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726114752/http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/internet-explorer-11-developer-preview-windows-7|archive-date=July 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/bg182632(v=vs.85) |title=What's new in F12 Tools (Preliminary) |work=[[MSDN]] |publisher=Microsoft |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2013}}</ref> enhanced scaling for high DPI screens,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/dn265030(v=vs.85) |title=High DPI support (Preliminary) |work=[[MSDN]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> [[HTML5]] prerender and prefetch,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/dn265039(v=vs.85) |title=Prerender and prefetch support (Preliminary) |work=[[MSDN]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> [[hardware-accelerated]] [[JPEG]] decoding,<ref name="PCWord Bradley Business">{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Tony|title=Why Internet Explorer 11 is the right browser for business|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045355/why-internet-explorer-11-is-the-right-browser-for-business.html|work=[[PC World]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> [[closed captioning]], HTML5 full screen,<ref name="ghack Brinkmann Preview">{{cite web|last=Brinkmann|first=Martin|title=The Internet Explorer 11 Preview for Windows 7 is now available|url=http://www.ghacks.net/2013/07/25/the-internet-explorer-11-preview-for-windows-7-is-now-available/|work=Ghacks.net|publisher=ghacks Technology News|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=July 25, 2013|archive-date=July 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727193814/http://www.ghacks.net/2013/07/25/the-internet-explorer-11-preview-for-windows-7-is-now-available/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is the first Internet Explorer to support [[WebGL]]<ref name="cnet-ie11dev">{{cite web|title=Latest Windows 8.1 build beefs up IE developer tools|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57582508-75/latest-windows-8.1-build-beefs-up-ie-developer-tools/ |work=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name="verge-ie11webgl">{{cite web|title=Microsoft teases Internet Explorer 11 WebGL support on Vine|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/22/4355942/internet-explorer-11-webgl-support-teased-on-vine|work=The Verge|date=May 22, 2013|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/bg182648(v=vs.85) |title=WebGL (Preliminary) |work=[[MSDN]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> and Google's protocol [[SPDY]] (starting at v3).<ref name="techcrunch-spdy">{{cite web|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|title=Microsoft Confirms IE11 Will Support Google's SPDY Protocol|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/26/microsoft-confirms-ie11-will-support-googles-spdy-protocol/|work=[[TechCrunch]]|publisher=[[Aol]]|access-date=September 10, 2013|date=June 26, 2013}}</ref> This version of IE has features dedicated to Windows 8.1, including cryptography (WebCrypto),<ref name="ie11-7-preview" /> [[adaptive bitrate streaming]] ([[Media Source Extensions]])<ref name="BetaNews Williams DevPreview">{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Mike|title=Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview now available for Windows 7|url=http://betanews.com/2013/07/26/internet-explorer-11-developer-preview-now-available-for-windows-7/|work=BetaNews|publisher=BetaNews, Inc|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> and [[Encrypted Media Extensions]].<ref name="ghack Brinkmann Preview" />

Internet Explorer 11 was made available for [[Windows 7]] users to download on November 7, 2013, with [[Windows Update#Automatic Updates|Automatic Updates]] in the following weeks.<ref name="ieblog-ie11-w7">{{cite web|title=IE11 for Windows 7 Globally Available for Consumers and Businesses |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2013/11/07/ie11-for-windows-7-globally-available-for-consumers-and-businesses.aspx |access-date=November 8, 2013}}</ref>

Internet Explorer 11's [[user agent]] string now identifies the agent as "[[MSHTML|Trident]]" (the underlying browser engine) instead of "MSIE". It also announces compatibility with [[Gecko (software)|Gecko]] (the browser engine of [[Firefox]]).

Microsoft claimed that Internet Explorer 11, running the [[WebKit]] SunSpider [[JavaScript]] Benchmark, was the fastest browser as of October 15, 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/benchmarks/SunSpider/SunSpiderResultsIE11GA.png | title=WebKit SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark Results | publisher=ie.microsoft.com | access-date=October 23, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061619/http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/benchmarks/SunSpider/SunSpiderResultsIE11GA.png | archive-date=October 23, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Internet Explorer 11 was made available for [[Windows Server 2012]] and [[Windows Embedded 8 Standard]] in April 2019.<ref name="Win8IE11">{{cite web|title=Bringing Internet Explorer 11 to Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Windows-IT-Pro-Blog/Bringing-Internet-Explorer-11-to-Windows-Server-2012-and-Windows/ba-p/325297 |date=January 28, 2019|access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref>

===End of life===
[[Microsoft Edge Legacy|Microsoft Edge [Legacy]]] was officially unveiled on January 21, 2015, as "Project Spartan".<ref name="ieblog-spartan">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2015/01/22/project-spartan-and-the-windows-10-january-preview-build.aspx|title=Spartan and the Windows 10 January Preview Build|date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122190033/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2015/01/22/project-spartan-and-the-windows-10-january-preview-build.aspx|archive-date=January 22, 2015|website=IEBlog|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|first1=Jason|last1=Weber}}</ref><ref name="verge-spartanextensions">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/27/7925007/microsoft-project-spartan-browser-extensions|title=Microsoft reveals its Internet Explorer successor will support extensions|date=January 27, 2015|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|first1=Tom|last1=Warren}}</ref> On April 29, 2015, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Edge would replace Internet Explorer as the default browser in Windows 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/29/technology/microsoft-edge-windows-build/index.html|title='Microsoft Edge' will replace Internet Explorer|date=April 29, 2015|last=Goldman|first=David|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref> However, Internet Explorer remained the default web browser on the Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and on Windows Server until 2021, primarily for enterprise purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/17/8230631/microsoft-is-killing-off-the-internet-explorer-brand |title=Microsoft is killing off the Internet Explorer brand |work=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=March 17, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/at-work/whats-new-wip-at-work-1809|title=What's new in the Windows Server 2019 Insider Preview Builds|website=docs.microsoft.com|access-date=February 12, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210085938/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/at-work/whats-new-wip-at-work-1809|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/ltsc/whats-new-windows-10-2021|title=What's new in Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021|date=December 9, 2022|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/whats-new-in-windows-server-2022|title=What's new in Windows Server 2022|date=December 14, 2022|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref>

Internet Explorer is still installed in Windows 10 to maintain compatibility with older websites and [[intranet]] sites that require [[ActiveX]] and other legacy web technologies.<ref name="ieblog-spartan"/><ref name="verge-spartanextensions"/> The browser's MSHTML rendering engine also remains for compatibility reasons.

Additionally, [[Microsoft Edge (Chromium)]] shipped with the "Internet Explorer mode" feature, which enables support for legacy internet applications. This is possible through use of the [[MSHTML|Trident MSHTML]] engine, the [[web rendering|rendering]] code of Internet Explorer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is Internet Explorer mode?|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode|access-date=2021-10-12|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Blog|first=Windows Experience|date=2021-05-19|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/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Windows Experience Blog|language=en-US}}</ref> Microsoft has committed to supporting Internet Explorer mode at least through 2029, with a one-year notice before it is discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lifecycle FAQ - Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge|access-date=2021-10-12|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}</ref> 

With the release of Microsoft Edge [Legacy], the development of new features for Internet Explorer ceased. [[Internet Explorer 11]] was the final release, and Microsoft began the process of deprecating Internet Explorer. During this process, it will still be [[Software maintenance|maintained]] as part of Microsoft's support policies.<ref name="is-ie-discontinued" />

Since January 12, 2016, only the latest version of Internet Explorer available for each version of Windows has been supported.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2014/08/07/stay-up-to-date-with-internet-explorer.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808014410/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2014/08/07/stay-up-to-date-with-internet-explorer.aspx |title=Stay up-to-date with Internet Explorer |publisher=Microsofts's MSDN blog |date=August 7, 2014|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="IELifecycle">{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle#gp/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer |title=Internet Explorer Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ |access-date=March 18, 2015}}<!-- Ref'd document title says "Lifecycle" not "Life cycle", please do not change --></ref> At the time, nearly half of Internet Explorer users were using an unsupported version.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3010555/nearly-370m-ie-users-have-just-6-weeks-to-upgrade.html|title=Nearly 370M IE users have just 6 weeks to upgrade|date=December 1, 2015|last=Keizer|first=Gregg|publisher=Computerworld|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref>

In February 2019, Microsoft Chief of Security Chris Jackson recommended that users stop using Internet Explorer as their default browser.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Chris |title=The perils of using Internet Explorer as your default browser |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/the-perils-of-using-internet-explorer-as-your-default-browser/ba-p/331732# |website=Windows IT Pro Blog |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 14, 2020 |language=en |date=February 6, 2019}}</ref>

Various websites have dropped support for Internet Explorer. On June 1, 2020, the [[Internet Archive]] removed Internet Explorer from its list of supported browsers, due to the browser's dated nature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Farewell to IE11 |url=https://blog.archive.org/2020/05/01/farewell-to-ie11/ |website=Internet Archive Blogs |publisher=Internet Archive |access-date=May 14, 2020 |language=en |date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> Since November 30, 2020, the web version of [[Microsoft Teams]] can no longer be accessed using Internet Explorer 11, followed by the remaining [[Microsoft 365]] applications since August 17, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-20|title=Microsoft Internet Explorer is finally dead|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/microsoft-internet-explorer-out-use-11-edge-a9676176.html|access-date=2021-03-26|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/microsoft-365-apps-say-farewell-to-internet-explorer-11-and/ba-p/1591666|title=Microsoft 365 apps say farewell to Internet Explorer 11 and Windows 10 sunsets Microsoft Edge Legacy|access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> WordPress also dropped support for the browser in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wordpress.org/news/2021/05/dropping-support-for-internet-explorer-11/|title=Dropping support for Internet Explorer 11|date=May 19, 2021|last=Desrosiers|first=Jonathan|publisher=WordPress|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref>

Microsoft disabled the normal means of launching Internet Explorer in [[Windows 11]] and later versions of [[Windows 10]],<ref>{{cite web |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 |access-date=13 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> but it is still possible for users to launch the browser from the [[Control Panel (Windows)|Control Panel]]'s [[browser toolbar]] settings or via [[PowerShell]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2022/8/3/23290171/how-to-use-internet-explorer-windows-11-why-microsoft-why |access-date=22 October 2022 |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=3 August 2022 |title=You can bring Internet Explorer back to life in Windows 11 if you're a glutton for punishment |website=theverge.com |publisher=Vox Media, LLC. |quote=It’s just a matter of searching for Internet Options in the Start menu, launching the control panel applet, selecting the programs tab, hitting “manage add-ons,” and then clicking the “Learn more about toolbars and extensions.” For some reason, this launches Internet Explorer, bypassing the commands that force you into Edge.}}</ref>

On June 15, 2022, Internet Explorer 11 support ended for the [[Windows 10]] Semi-Annual Channel (SAC). Users on these versions of Windows 10 were redirected to [[Microsoft Edge]] starting on February 14, 2023, and visual references to the browser (such as icons on the taskbar) would have been removed on June 13, 2023. However, on May 19, 2023, various organizations disapproved, leading Microsoft to withdraw the change.<ref name="IE11 and Edge Lifecycle FAQ">{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge |title=Lifecycle FAQ - Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge |date=2021-11-03 |access-date=2022-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613224114/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |title=Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ |date=2022-06-13 |access-date=2022-06-13 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |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 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Other versions of Windows that were still supported at the time were unaffected. Specifically, [[Windows 7]] ESU, [[Windows 8.x]], [[Windows RT]]; [[Windows Server 2008]]/[[Windows Server 2008 R2|R2]] ESU, [[Windows Server 2012]]/[[Windows Server 2012 R2|R2]] and later; and [[Windows 10 editions#Organizational editions|Windows 10 LTSB/LTSC]] continued to receive updates until their respective end of life dates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-19 |title=Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ |website=TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |access-date=2022-06-15 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2022-06-15 |first=Josh |last=Taylor |title=Microsoft to retire Internet Explorer browser and redirect users to Edge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/15/microsoft-to-retire-internet-explorer-browser-and-redirect-users-to-edge |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lifecycle FAQ - Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge|access-date=2021-07-10|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/20/tech/microsoft-internet-explorer-end-of-life/index.html| publisher=CNN |title=Microsoft is finally getting rid of its most-hated product |date=May 20, 2021 |access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref> 

On other versions of Windows, Internet Explorer will still be supported until their own end of support dates. [[Internet Explorer 7|IE7]] was supported until October 10, 2023, alongside the end of support for [[Windows Embedded Compact 2013]], while [[Internet Explorer 9|IE9]] is supported until January 13, 2026, alongside the end of [paid and [[grandfathered]]] Premium Assurance support for customers on [[Windows Server 2008]].<ref name="IELifecycle" /> Barring additional changes to the support policy, Internet Explorer 11 will be supported until January 13, 2032, concurrent with the end of support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021 |title=Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="IELifecycle" />