It’s an end of an era as Microsoft retires Internet Explorer 11, the browser that has grown since the start of the internet’s boom. By August this year, all the Microsoft 365 apps and services will stop supporting IE11 on Windows 10. Instead, the new Microsoft Edge replaces IE11, along with Microsoft Edge legacy, with a mode that lets customers use Edge with an IE mode, offering an overall more secure and modern web experience.
The browser isn’t totally new as this has been introduced a few years back via the legacy version. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Microsoft Edge is an internet browsing package that contains Chromium and the IE mode. While you can view modern sites with Chromium, the legacy sites, IE-based websites, and apps can be viewed using their IE mode.
The Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022 for certain versions of Windows 10.
Learn more about the future of Internet Explorer in Microsoft Edge.
— Microsoft Edge Dev (@MSEdgeDev) May 20, 2021
Transitioning into the new Edge
Last February, they’ve announced their move on sunsetting the IE11 and Microsoft Edge Legacy browsers, “working on the new Microsoft Edge, listening to our customers’ needs for world-class compatibility (including legacy app support), security, privacy, easy and unified manageability, and productivity.” Following through to that promise of working towards the needs of their users, they announced this May that they have taken a bold step in enabling their customers with a dual-engine advantage that offers compatibility for apps that work in IE and legacy.
Related story: Microsoft Edge Browser Now Available on Android and iOS
Since then, Microsoft has provided the Enterprise Site Discovery guide to determine sites that are compatible with IE11 and legacy. Organizations that have legacy apps and sites dependent on IE11 can use the Getting Started Guide to configure their IE mode as well. The Internet Explorer Retirement Adoption Kit also has built-in content to help notify people as they move to Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft Edge will have a new release schedule starting this fall to serve our customers better. This includes a new option for our enterprise customers. Read more: https://t.co/qG07Ycih77
— Microsoft Edge Dev (@MSEdgeDev) March 12, 2021
Apart from that, Microsoft ensured that the browser also provides a more stringent defense against malware and phishing on Windows 10, a problem that has plagued IE for years. Microsoft has also made an App Assure promise to ensure that IE, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge Legacy apps will work seamlessly with the new Microsoft Edge browser.
By retaining the best of the past with the 90s browser, Microsoft also wants to adhere to the modern needs of its user. The company further stated that “The new Microsoft Edge is our best expression of a modern browser—we’re excited for customers to experience it.”
YouTube: Microsoft Edge | Internet Explorer Retirement Announcement
Photo credit: The feature image has been taken by Dave Kotinsky (Getty Images) and has been provided to us for press usage by Microsoft.
Source: Eric Van Aelstyn (Microsoft Tech Community) / Zack Whittaker (TechCrunch)
