What you need to be able to run the new IE11 on Windows 7

Nov 8, 2013 12:45 GMT  ·  By

Internet Explorer 11 is now available on Windows 7 computers too, with Microsoft now shipping the new version to users via Windows Update.

Those who installed the preview version of IE11 on Windows 7 will be the first to get it, but Microsoft claims that, eventually, everyone should receive the new browser unless they install the toolkit to block its installation.

A manual download is however available if you want to get it right away but, before starting the installer, there are a few things you need to know.

IE11 works with both 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and requires at least 1 GB of RAM for the former. The latter, on the other hand, needs 2 GB of RAM. A reboot is required once the installation comes to an end.

Just as usual, make sure you create a backup to be on the safe side in case something bad happens. Obviously, you still have the option to install a third-party browser after that, so if Internet Explorer stops working for one reason or another (yes, some users did report this), there's still a way to keep browsing the web on Windows 7.

Here are some preliminary system requirements, as Microsoft is yet to update the official page with more information:  

1 GHz or faster processor
1 GB or 2 GB of RAM for 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems
Storage space: approximately 55 MB for the installer, and another 30 MB for all files
DirectX 9 compatible graphics device with WDDM driver