14 DAY TRIAL // The retirement of Internet Explorer has been taking place in stages, and given the popularity of the browser (I know, right?), this is something that makes perfect sense.
After previously being pushed out of support in mid-2022, Internet Explorer is now permanently disabled on certain Windows 10 versions after the installation of the February Patch Tuesday updates.
Shipped as automatic updates to Windows 10 devices, the February 14 cumulative updates include critical security fixes, and users are recommended to install them as soon as possible.
Once the update is complete, all users will be redirected to Microsoft Edge.
“As previously announced, the out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) desktop application will be permanently disabled on certain versions of Windows 10 starting today, February 14, 2023. Devices that have not already been redirected from IE11 to Microsoft Edge will be redirected with today’s Microsoft Edge update. As is usual, this update will be rolled out over the span of a few days up to a week via Microsoft Edge’s progressive rollout,” Microsoft said today.
Needless to say, leaving behind Internet Explorer is something that everybody should do at this point.
In fact, Internet Explorer has long been an abandoned browser, and the June 15, 2022, demise was only the final nail in its coffin. Microsoft is all about Microsoft Edge now, so the software giant is recommending all users who are still running Internet Explorer to switch to the IE mode bundled with Edge.
This is the easiest way to prevent compatibility issues, especially for internal company apps.
The next step in the retirement of Internet Explorer will begin in May.
“Removal of IE11 visual references, such as the IE11 icons on the Start Menu and taskbar, will begin after with the May non-security preview release, currently scheduled for May 23, 2023, and will be included in all subsequent Windows updates,” Microsoft says.