Internet Explorer is officially discontinued. What does this mean for your business?

Internet Explorer is officially discontinued. What does this mean for your business?

Internet Explorer (IE) was one of the most widely used web browsers from the mid-’90s until the 2000s. But after more than two decades, Microsoft has decided to pull the plug on the web browser. As of June 15, 2022, the final version of Internet Explorer is no longer supported. This means IE will no longer receive security updates and technical support, which could pose a security risk for those who continue to use the web browser.

If your business uses IE for your operations, this blog will discuss everything you need to know.

What happens now that IE is discontinued?

Now that IE has reached its end-of-support date, Microsoft will start migrating IE users to Edge, the company’s newest web browser. Microsoft will eventually disable IE through a cumulative update in the future, but for now, users will experience the following changes:

  • The IE icon will remain on the Start Menu and on the taskbar and desktop (if present), but clicking on the icon will open Edge.
  • When users try to launch shortcuts or files that use IE, they will be redirected to Edge.
  • When users try to launch IE by running the iexplore.exe command, Edge will launch instead.

Now that IE has reached its end-of-support date, Microsoft will start migrating IE users to Edge, the company’s newest web browser.

Why is Microsoft transitioning to Edge?

Microsoft is moving away from IE because the program is known to be slow and crash-prone. It can also easily be exploited by cybercriminals, which has led to people using more secure alternatives.

With Edge, Microsoft aims to provide users with a more modern web browser that can comply with the latest web standards. Edge is based on Chromium, the same open-source project that powers Google Chrome. This makes Edge compatible with modern websites and applications. Finally, Edge can provide users with a more secure browsing experience, thanks to the following features:

  • Application Guard: This feature runs untrusted sites in a separate virtual container, preventing them from infecting your device with malware or accessing your data.
  • Microsoft Defender SmartScreen: This provides real-time reputation checks of sites and downloads to protect users from malware and phishing attacks.
  • Azure Active Directory Conditional Access: With this feature, IT admins can control which users can access certain sites. It also prevents unauthorized users from viewing sensitive information
  • Windows Information Protection (WIP): WIP protects corporate data to help prevent accidental leaks by users.
  • Microsoft Endpoint data loss prevention: This feature alerts admins when noncompliant activity is detected to reduce the risk of data loss.

Related article: 7 Reasons you should switch to Microsoft Edge

How can businesses access their IE-based apps after June 15?

Organizations can still access their legacy content using IE mode in Edge. IE mode is a feature that gives users backwards compatibility for sites and web applications that are optimized for IE. Here’s how to enable it:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Click on the three dots button on the top-right corner of the screen and click Settings.
  3. From the left menu pane, click on Default Browser.
  4. From the dropdown menu beside "Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode," select Allow.
  5. Restart Microsoft Edge. IE mode should now be enabled.

Microsoft will support IE mode until 2029 to give businesses enough time to make their apps and websites compatible with newer browsers.

What if apps and sites don’t work under Edge’s IE mode?

Businesses that experience compatibility issues in IE mode such as an error loading a site can visit Microsoft’s App Assure website for assistance.

If you’re having trouble implementing Microsoft Edge for your Baltimore, Annapolis, or Towson business, you can seek the help of a reliable managed IT services provider like NetQuest. We will ensure that your legacy apps and websites will continue functioning even after you migrate from IE. Talk to us today to learn more.


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