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How to Enable or Disable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge: Despite the fact that it is sluggish, out of date, and poses a security risk, Internet Explorer (IE) is still required for operating older websites and applications that do not function properly with modern browsers. On the other hand, if you use Microsoft Edge for your typical web browsing, you won’t have to constantly switch between the two clients.
This is due to the fact that the latter comes with an integrated Internet Explorer Mode that is able to render websites using the Trident MSHTML engine that works with Internet Explorer. The Internet Explorer web browser is not supported by Windows 11, which is the first version of Windows to remove this feature. In addition to the fact that it does not come pre-installed, you could not install it and then use it at a later time. If you use older websites or accessibility tools that are browser-based and require Internet Explorer, then you will run into this inconvenience.
On the other hand, you will need to activate Internet Explorer Mode before you can use Microsoft Edge to load content from legacy websites. The instructions that are provided below will guide you through everything you need to know in order to configure this mode on a personal computer that is running Windows 10 or Windows 11. Here are the simple steps how to Enable or Disable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge.
What is Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge?
Through the use of Internet Explorer mode, users are able to access both historical and contemporary websites through a single browser. Considering that the Chromium engine that is built into the browser makes use of the same technology that is the foundation of Google Chrome, it is an excellent choice for most contemporary web applications.
The Chromium engine, on the other hand, is not designed to work with Internet Explorer-based websites, which are still supported by some organisations. Because of this, Edge also incorporates the Trident (MSHTML) engine from Internet Explorer 11, which enables users to have the ability to work with web applications that were originally designed for Internet Explorer in addition to modern web applications.
How to Enable or disable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge
Enabling Internet Explorer mode
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click on the three dots menu in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Click on Default browser.
- Under Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode), toggle the switch to On.
- Restart Microsoft Edge for the changes to take effect.
Disabling Internet Explorer mode
- Follow steps 1-3 above to open the Default browser settings.
- Under Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode), toggle the switch to Off.
- Restart Microsoft Edge for the changes to take effect.
Adding specific websites to open in IE mode
- Follow steps 1-3 above to open the Default browser settings.
- Click on Add.
- Enter the URL of the website you want to open in IE mode.
- Click Add.
- Restart Microsoft Edge for the changes to take effect.
Why Enable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge
- Compatible with Internet Explorer: Internet Explorer Mode lets users access websites or web apps that are made to work with Internet Explorer. Some older websites might not work right in newer browsers. Enabling IE Mode makes sure that all browsers can work with these sites.
- Legacy Applications: Some businesses still use web apps that were made for Internet Explorer a long time ago. By turning on IE Mode in Microsoft Edge, users can keep using these apps without switching to Internet Explorer separately.
- Unified Browser Experience: Businesses that have switched to Microsoft Edge as their main browser may need to access both new and old web content. With IE Mode, users can do this in the same browser, making the browsing experience more unified.
- Enterprise Compatibility: A lot of businesses have their own tools or programmes that were made to only work with Internet Explorer. By turning on IE Mode in Microsoft Edge, employees will be able to use these resources without any problems.
- Ease of Transition: IE Mode helps organisations switch from Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge by giving users a chance to get used to the new browser slowly while still being able to access older web content that needs to be compatible with Internet Explorer.
Conclusion
My visits to an insurance broker and an ophthalmologist over the past few years have both involved the utilisation of web-based systems that were only capable of functioning properly when accessed through Internet Explorer.
In the past, when Internet Explorer held a market share of more than 90 percent, businesses, large organisations, and even government agencies have spent millions of dollars developing complex web applications that are compatible with Internet Explorer. However, this was done many years ago. Because of a lack of time or financial resources, many of these same organisations have not been able to rewrite their systems to accommodate modern browsers.
Questions and Answers
Organisations that still require Internet Explorer 11 for backward compatibility with existing websites but also require a modern browser are the target audience for the Internet Explorer (IE) mode that we developed for Microsoft Edge.
In order for Microsoft Edge to be able to apply IE mode settings, it must first download the list of sites that support IE mode. It’s possible that this process won’t be finished when the browser restarts. In the event that a website is loaded, there is a policy that can be implemented to ensure that the site list is loaded first.
Because toolbars are not supported in IE mode, the surface area that can be exploited by an attacker is reduced, making IE mode a more secure alternative to IE. It is well known that toolbars are vectors for malicious software and phishing attacks.
Exit Internet Explorer mode; otherwise, Microsoft Edge will automatically exit from IE mode whenever a navigation that isn’t “in-page” occurs (for example, using the address bar, the back button, or a favourite link). Exit Internet Explorer mode. In the default configuration, entries are kept on the local site list for a period of thirty days.