Internet Explorer will be turned off in February

Nov 9, 2022 16:04 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has already retired Internet Explorer, and now the software giant is getting ready for the very next step in the demise of the classic browser.

The company has issued a new warning that Internet Explorer will be turned off once and for all in February this year, so users are once again recommended to give up on the browser and switch to a modern alternative.

Needless to say, Microsoft’s recommended modern alternative is Microsoft Edge, which also comes with a built-in IE mode that helps users run applications in an Internet Explorer compatibility mode.

“The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be permanently turned off as part of the February 2023 Windows security update ("B" release) scheduled for February 14, 2023. Go to Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ for more information,” Microsoft explains.

Internet Explorer will be disabled in Windows with the optional updates shipped in January 2023 as part of the C release. The updates are scheduled to ship on January 17, and they will be available as a preview of the next Patch Tuesday update due on February 14, 2023.

“Staying on an unsupported version of Windows 10 will not prevent redirection—the IE11 desktop application will be redirected to Microsoft Edge across both supported and unsupported versions of Windows 10. Furthermore, IE11 is not supported on Windows 10 versions that are out of support (such as Windows 10, versions 1909 and 2004),” Microsoft explains.

“Windows 10, versions 20H2 and later are the only supported versions of Windows 10 at the time of IE11 retirement. IE11 on any Windows 10 version prior to 20H2 is not supported. We do not recommend customers use unsupported versions of Windows 10 on their organization's devices. We recommend that customers move to supported versions of Windows 10 or Windows 11 and set up Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode (IE mode).”