14 DAY TRIAL // Now that Microsoft has replaced Internet Explorer with Edge in Windows 10, the company’s exclusively focusing on its new browser, so moving users to this version has become a priority.
Unfortunately for the software giant, it can’t get rid of Internet Explorer overnight, but what it can do is kill off some of the old versions and slowly switch users to newer builds. That’s exactly what the company will be doing on January 12, 2016, when it’s killing support for several old versions of Internet Explorer.
As gHacks notes, a notification on Microsoft’s Lifecycle website calls for users to update their browsers before this date, pointing out that only the latest version on each supported Windows release will continue to receive updates and security patches.
As a result, on Windows Vista SP2, Internet Explorer must be updated to version 9, while on Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, Internet Explorer 11 is the currently-supported build.
Edge for the win
Microsoft is offering both Edge and Internet Explorer in Windows 10, but it’s no secret that the company’s all about the first nowadays, especially because it’s available not only on PCs, but also on tablets and smartphones.
Edge is the default browser in Windows 10, while Internet Explorer is buried deep in the operating system, so you have to search for it manually or look for the app in the Start menu.
Pundits previously said that at some point in the future, Internet Explorer would be removed completely from Windows, but the company can’t do this right now given the huge number of companies that are still using this browser for their internal apps or services.
It takes time to kill a browser, that’s for sure, but with the January deadline, Microsoft is definitely moving one step closer towards this goal. Time will tell, however, how long Internet Explorer can survive this massive push to move everyone to Edge.