Life After Internet Explorer Is To Begin. New Browser Choices

The times are changing. Microsoft recently announced that their web browser, Internet Explorer, will be retired as of June 15, 2022. In its place, Microsoft Edge will take over. According to the company, Microsoft Edge offers a “faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience” than its predecessor.

Although the future of technology is constantly changing, the impact of changes to longstanding products like Internet Explorer cannot be underestimated. Having been around since 1995, many companies have trusted Internet Explorer from the beginning. That said, many of their websites and web applications still rely on the soon to be discontinued browser. This leaves many businesses wondering what this change means for their web presence.

Here, we’ll go over why Microsoft is dropping Internet Explorer and what it means for your business.

Table of Contents

Farewell to Internet Explorer

The desktop application and browser, Internet Explorer, will be retired and removed from Microsoft support in June 2022. According to Microsoft, the reasons the company is doing away with Internet Explorer in favor of Microsoft Edge are:

Streamlined Productivity – Internet Explore paled in comparison to modern browsers’ functionality, speed, and features.

Better Browser Security – Internet Explorer became increasingly incapable of handling growing cybersecurity threats.
Improved Compatibility – Internet Explorer was home to many legacy websites and applications that didn’t adapt well to modern technologies. Modern browsers like Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox offer better options for website compatibility.

According to Microsoft, Edge will provide increased user experience for home and office use. In addition, it will allow Microsoft to provide better service for its customers, as Internet Explorer has been “increasingly been difficult to support side-by-side with modern browsers.” In addition to Microsoft Edge, users still have the option to use other browsers that have better handled the changing landscape of the internet.

What This Means for Your Business

As a business owner with a web presence, you might be wondering how you’re affected by this change. First and foremost, don’t panic. You’re not alone in being affected by this change and the switch may be easier than you think. It also serves as a great opportunity to take time to evaluate your current website and applications and update them or launch new ones.

Microsoft states that “enterprises have 1,678 legacy apps on average.” As a result, they’ve enabled their new browser, Microsoft Edge, to have an Internet Explorer mode that will support legacy apps through at least 2029. However, it’s important to understand that even with this Internet Explorer mode, the majority of web users do not use Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge. In fact, according to StatCounter.com, nearly 65% of web users use Chrome as of April 2021. Comparatively, only 0.17% of users use Internet Explorer and 3.39% use Edge. That said, it’s important to take this change as a jumping off point to optimize your site for the browsers that most users are utilizing.

Web developers have been clamoring for a long time to shift away from Internet Explorer, as it was increasingly difficult to create websites and applications that would function optimally across all browsers due to Internet Explorer’s limitations. With this change, it’s an opportunity for growth for businesses to make the changes that developers have been pushing. There is no better time than now to assess your current web presence and take the time between today and June 2022 to update your websites and applications.

What does it actually mean that Internet Explorer is “retired” and out of support?

When Microsoft says Internet Explorer (IE) is retired, it means the IE 11 desktop application no longer receives security updates, bug fixes, or technical support on most versions of Windows 10, and in many cases attempts to open IE are automatically redirected to Microsoft Edge. A retired browser becomes a security risk over time, because newly discovered vulnerabilities are not patched, making systems more exposed to malware, phishing, and other attacks.

For most users on supported editions of Windows 10, opening Internet Explorer now launches Microsoft Edge instead, often with data such as favorites and passwords imported automatically to smooth the transition. In addition, Microsoft has committed to supporting “IE mode” inside Edge for legacy sites until at least 2029, so organizations can still run old web apps that depend on IE technologies while using a modern browser shell.

What should I do now that Internet Explorer is no longer supported?

If you are still using Internet Explorer, the first step is to switch your daily browsing to a supported modern browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another reputable option. Modern browsers receive ongoing security updates, support current web standards, and are required by many newer websites and web apps that no longer work reliably in Internet Explorer.

Once you have chosen a new browser, import your bookmarks, saved passwords, and other browsing data from Internet Explorer so you can continue working without disruption. After confirming that your important sites and data work correctly in the new browser, many IT security teams recommend uninstalling or disabling Internet Explorer entirely to reduce the attack surface on your system.

How can I access older websites and business applications that still require Internet Explorer?

Many organizations still rely on legacy web applications built specifically for Internet Explorer, often using older technologies such as ActiveX controls, document modes, or enterprise intranet features. To support these sites after IE’s retirement, Microsoft provides “Internet Explorer mode” (IE mode) in Microsoft Edge, which uses the same Trident (MSHTML) engine as IE 11 inside the Edge browser for selected sites.

Businesses can configure a centralized site list so that specific internal or legacy URLs automatically open in IE mode while everything else uses the modern Edge engine. Microsoft has stated that IE mode in Edge will be supported through at least 2029 and that organizations will receive at least one year of notice before this compatibility feature is retired, giving IT teams a runway to modernize or replace legacy applications.

How do I safely move my favorites, passwords, and settings from Internet Explorer to a modern browser?

Most mainstream browsers include built-in tools to import data directly from Internet Explorer, allowing users to preserve favorites, saved passwords, history, and other settings with minimal manual work. In Microsoft Edge, you can open the Settings menu, go to Profiles, select Import browser data, choose Internet Explorer from the list of browsers, and then choose which items (such as favorites and passwords) you want to import.

Other browsers such as Firefox and Chrome offer similar import wizards, typically found under their bookmarks or settings menus, where you can select Internet Explorer as the source. After importing, it is wise to verify that your most important sites, bookmarks, and credentials work as expected, and then consider using a password manager to securely store and sync your login information across devices.

Is it safe to keep Internet Explorer installed, or should I remove it completely?

Leaving Internet Explorer installed but unused still carries potential risk because the software is no longer receiving security patches on most supported Windows 10 editions. Even if you do not intentionally open IE, malicious software or outdated workflows might still invoke its components, creating a security weak point on your system.

Many security and IT best-practice guides recommend fully disabling or uninstalling Internet Explorer once you have migrated to a supported browser and confirmed that all legacy requirements are handled, for example via IE mode in Edge. Removing or disabling IE reduces the attack surface, simplifies browser management, and helps ensure users do not accidentally fall back to an unsafe, unsupported browser for everyday tasks.

Life After Internet Explorer