Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) desktop application retires on Windows 10 on June 15, 2022

Today we announced that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer mode (IE mode) provides legacy browser support within Microsoft Edge. Because of this, the IE11 desktop application will be retired on June 15, 2022. This means that the IE11 desktop application will no longer be supported and afterwards will redirect to Microsoft Edge if a user tries to access it.

Internet Explorer 11 desktop application

• Timing: The IE11 desktop application retires on June 15, 2022
  • Windows 10 LTSC and Server not affected. For a full list of what is in scope for retirement, see the FAQ.
• Action:
  • To continue using a supported browser, transition to the new Microsoft Edge.
  • To continue using legacy IE-based sites and apps, you will need to configure those sites and apps to open in Microsoft Edge using Internet Explorer mode.

How this will affect your organization:

If your organization has legacy sites and apps with IE dependencies, you will need to set up IE mode so that users can access them through Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge, with Internet Explorer mode, is the only browser with built-in compatibility for legacy IE-based sites and apps. It also gives your organization world-class compatibility with a dual-engine advantage:

• Microsoft Edge renders IE-based sites and apps using IE mode.
• Microsoft Edge renders modern sites and apps using Chromium.

IE mode support follows the lifecycle of Windows Client, Server, and IoT releases at least through 2029. Additionally, Microsoft will give one year notice to deprecate the IE mode experience in-market when the time comes.

Reminder: This new announcement builds on our previous one. As communicated in MC220490 (August ’20), Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer support IE11 after August 17, 2021; after this date, Microsoft 365 apps and services will be unable to connect, or have a degraded feature experience, when accessed on IE11. Other Microsoft products and services are also ending support for IE11. For a full list, please see our Microsoft apps and services to end support page.

What you need to do to prepare:

To prepare, we recommend setting up Microsoft Edge in your organization. If your organization needs legacy browser support, you will want to set up IE mode in Microsoft Edge.

• View the Microsoft browser usage report in the Microsoft 365 Admin center to help size IE usage in your organization. Appropriate permissions required.
• Use the Getting Started guide to learn how to set up Microsoft Edge in your organization, configure Internet Explorer mode (if needed), and move your end users.
  • FastTrack can help with deployment and configuration at no additional charge for customers with 150 or more seats of Windows 10.
  • For help with web app and site compatibility, especially if you have legacy site concerns after configuring IE mode, learn more about the App Assure program.

Additional Information

• Read our announcement blog for more information.
• Visit the Internet Explorer mode website.
• Read our FAQ to help answer your questions.
• Visit the Microsoft Edge and IE lifecycle page for more details.

We always value feedback and questions from our customers. Please feel free to submit either feedback or questions via Message Center.