Explore the current state of the once-dominant web browser. This article explains how Internet Explorer now exists primarily as a compatibility feature within Microsoft Edge.
Key Takeaways:
- Internet Explorer is officially retired and no longer supported as a standalone browser by Microsoft.
- Its core functionality lives on through “IE Mode” in the modern Microsoft Edge browser.
- IE Mode is designed for backward compatibility, specifically for organizations that rely on legacy websites and applications.
- The Internet Explorer team began with about six people in early development, but the browser eventually became the most widely used web browser, attaining a peak of 95% usage share by 2003.
- Users are strongly advised to switch to a modern browser for better security, performance, and compatibility.
Why is Internet Explorer no longer a standalone browser, and what is its status today?
The name “Internet Explorer” evokes a wave of nostalgia for many who remember the early days of the internet. For years, it was the world’s most dominant web browser, an ever-present fixture on Windows desktops. However, its decline was as dramatic as its rise, and today, its status is fundamentally different. The simple answer to the question of how Internet Explorer now operates is that it doesn’t, at least not in the way we remember. It is officially retired, with its support ending on June 15, 2022. For most users, trying to launch the Internet Explorer application on a modern Windows 10 or 11 PC will simply redirect them to Microsoft Edge.
This permanent retirement was a direct result of the browser’s inability to keep up with modern web standards, its security vulnerabilities, and its lagging performance compared to competitors like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The web evolved, but Internet Explorer did not, leaving web developers frustrated and users at risk. Microsoft’s solution wasn’t to rebuild the browser, but to move on entirely with its new, Chromium-based browser, Microsoft Edge. However, a complete and total abandonment was not an option for one crucial reason: enterprise and government organizations.
What is the primary function of how Internet Explorer now?
While the general public has largely forgotten about Internet Explorer, many businesses and government entities still rely on it. These organizations built custom intranets and legacy web applications that were designed to work exclusively with IE’s unique rendering engine and its support for technologies like ActiveX. For them, a complete shutdown of IE would have meant costly and disruptive overhauls.
This is where the new, primary function of how Internet Explorer now comes into play. Microsoft ingeniously integrated the Internet Explorer 11 engine into Microsoft Edge through a feature called “IE Mode.” This mode allows Edge to render specific websites using the older IE engine, thereby preserving critical legacy functionality while providing a secure and modern browsing experience for everything else. It is a brilliant, and necessary, compromise that acknowledges the past without being held hostage by it. IE Mode is not for general browsing; it’s a targeted tool for specific, pre-configured websites on an enterprise level.
Why does Internet Explorer still exist in Microsoft Edge?
The existence of IE Mode within Edge is a testament to the complexities of legacy IT infrastructure. Rather than forcing a hard and fast migration, which could take years for large organizations, Microsoft provided a long-term bridge. The underlying technology of Internet Explorer 11’s Trident engine is still there, allowing Edge to seamlessly switch to the legacy rendering mode when a user visits a site on a pre-approved “Enterprise Mode Site List.” This list is managed by IT administrators and ensures that only the necessary legacy sites are viewed in IE Mode, while all other browsing benefits from the speed and security of the Chromium engine.
Microsoft has committed to supporting IE Mode through at least 2029, with a one-year advance notice before its eventual retirement. This gives businesses a clear timeline to migrate their legacy applications to modern web standards. So, while you won’t find a standalone Internet Explorer on most new computers, the technology that powered it for decades remains a vital, albeit hidden, component of modern web browsing for a select group of users. This is the new reality of how Internet Explorer now functions in the modern computing landscape.
Who is using how Internet Explorer now, and for what purpose?
The user base for how Internet Explorer now is not the general consumer. Instead, it is predominantly made up of corporate IT departments, government agencies, and other large institutions. These are the entities that have invested heavily in web applications that were built and optimized for Internet Explorer years, or even decades, ago. The purpose is strictly for backward compatibility. Think of a financial institution with an internal portal for managing customer accounts, or a manufacturing company with a web-based interface for controlling factory machinery. These systems often contain complex ActiveX controls and other legacy elements that simply won’t work in a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or even the standard version of Microsoft Edge.
IE Mode in Edge solves this problem by providing a way to access these critical, business-specific applications without sacrificing the overall security and performance of the organization’s web environment. It’s a pragmatic approach to a difficult problem, allowing companies to continue their operations while they work on the lengthy and expensive process of modernizing their IT infrastructure. This is the final chapter of Internet Explorer’s story—not as a dominant force, but as a silent, essential tool for those who can’t yet let go of the past.
Muhammad Aqib 
Arsya