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How to Enable Internet Explorer Mode in Windows 11

Need Internet Explorer for an old web app? IE is now officially gone, but you can still run legacy sites thanks to IE mode in Microsoft Edge.

By Michael Muchmore
Updated March 8, 2023
(Credit: Microsoft/René Ramos)

In the last couple of years, I've been to an insurance broker and an ophthalmologist who both used web-based systems that could only function in Internet Explorer. Companies, large organizations, and even government agencies have spent millions of dollars creating complex web applications that run in IE, but that was years ago when the browser had a more than 90% market share. Many of these same organizations haven't had the time or budget to rewrite their systems for today's browsers. But now, Microsoft has permanently disabled Internet Explorer. If you need to use IE in Windows 10 or Windows 11, the way to get it is through Internet Explorer mode in the Microsoft Edge browser.

Here we show anyone who needs that good old IE special sauce how to get it without using the old browser. Getting IE functionality isn't terribly obvious, but it’s not at all hard either.


How to Get Internet Explorer Mode in Windows 11

1. Open Edge, Go to Settings

To get sites that require IE to work inside Edge in Windows 11, the first step is to open Edge and go to the three-dot menu all the way on the right side of the top menu bar. Choose Settings, which is nearly at the bottom:

Settings in Microsoft Edge browser
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

2. Navigate to Default Browser to Use IE Mode

Now head to the Default Browser section of Edge’s Settings page. Since this section is mostly about making Edge your default browser, it’s not the most obvious place for enabling IE mode, but that’s where you need to go. A helpful panel explains how to get legacy IE sites working in Edge. But what it suggests—setting particular sites to run in IE mode—is not the only option.

Default browser settings in Microsoft Edge web browser
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

3. Allow Sites to Reload in IE

You now have two choices for getting sites that require IE to work in Edge. First, you can set Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode to either Default or Allow (the only other option is "Don’t allow" and that clearly isn’t what you want):

Internet Explorer settings in Microsoft Edge web browser
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

4. Select How and When Sites Will Load in IE Mode

The Default setting presents an option to open Edge in IE mode if you’ve opened a page in that mode before. (This doesn’t mean that IE mode will be the default; this is just the default setting in Edge.) If you choose Allow, you’ll be able to choose Reload in Internet Explorer mode from the Settings and more menu, or by right-clicking on the tab and then choosing Open link in new Internet Explorer mode tab. If you choose Allow, you need to restart your browser.

Allow sites to run in Internet Explorer mode in Edge browser
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

Alternatively, you can add specific web pages to the Internet Explorer mode list. Note that you need to include "https://" and not just the address and domain. In my testing, allowing a specific site only would be in effect for one month, so that may not be the best way to go if you anticipate needing a site in IE mode for an extended period.

5. Open Any Pages Requiring IE

Navigate to the page you want to open in IE, right-click on its tab, and choose Reload tab in Internet Explorer Mode.

The IE mode button in Microsoft Edge
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

The first time you do this, you see a notification about the mode, with a switch for making the site always use IE mode. You also see a bar across the top of the page saying you’d be better off using the more modern and secure Edge, with a button to switch to it once you’re done browsing the site that requires IE. You’ll also see the good old “e” logo just to the left of the web address bar:

Internet Explorer mode first appearance in Windows 11
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

Also note the button showing a web tab with the Edge swirl logo in the toolbar just to the left of the Share button. This switches to a blue IE logo when you're in Edge mode and lets you switch between modes:

Switch to IE Mode button
(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

Move Forward With Windows 11

For more on Windows 11, read The Best Windows 11 Tips and Tricks. And keep track of all the latest developments on our Windows 11 news page.

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About Michael Muchmore

Lead Software Analyst

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

Prior to my current role, I covered software and apps for ExtremeTech, and before that I headed up PCMag’s enterprise software team, but I’m happy to be back in the more accessible realm of consumer software. I’ve attended trade shows of Microsoft, Google, and Apple and written about all of them and their products.

I’m an avid bird photographer and traveler—I’ve been to 40 countries, many with great birds! Because I’m also a classical fan and former performer, I’ve reviewed streaming services that emphasize classical music.

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