14 DAY TRIAL // If you’re somehow still using Internet Explorer in these modern times, your computer may not be provided with the upgrade to Windows 11 because of a bug Microsoft has come across lately.
In a tech support document published recently on the Windows health dashboard, the Redmond-based software giant explains that browser data stored in Internet Explorer may no longer be available after installing Windows 11 on an eligible device.
“After upgrading to Windows 11, saved information and data from Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) might not be accessible if you did not accept to import it into Microsoft Edge before the upgrade. Note: If you have accepted to import your IE11 information and data into Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 before upgrading to Windows 11, your device should not be affected by this issue,” the company explains.
As it typically does when major bugs are discovered, Microsoft has already enabled an upgrade block, meaning that devices that could be impacted by the glitch are no longer offered the upgrade to Windows 11.
A full fix is already in the works
However, the company says only devices where Internet Explorer 11 is the primary browser are targeted.
“To safeguard your upgrade experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on devices affected by this issue to prevent them from installing or being offered Windows 11. Affected devices are those in which IE11 is the primary browser used or IE11 is set as the default browser. If your organization is using Update Compliance, the safeguard ID is 37820326,” it says.
A workaround is obviously in the works already, but Microsoft says the issue does not impact devices that are yet to move to Windows 11. Furthermore, if you installed Windows 11 and didn’t select the option to import IE11 data in Microsoft Edge, you should be good to go, as no impact should be noticed on your device anyway.