Microsoft Plans to Retire Internet Explorer in June 2022

Jun, 2021 - By WMR

Microsoft announced the end of Internet Explorer as it will no longer support the versions of Windows 10.

In a blog post published on May 19, 2021, Microsoft announced an official end to the Internet Explorer. The announcement was made nearly a year in advance. Internet explorer will be withdrawn on June 15, 2022 and will no longer be supported on most versions of Windows 10. IE11’s legacy, on the other hand, lives on in Microsoft Edge. While IE11 will be removed from the majority of Windows 10 editions, Microsoft stated that it will not be removed from all of them. This update will affect both SKUs and IoT equipment running Windows 10 version 20H2 or later. This suggests that internet explorer will be phased out for the vast majority of users in the near future. All versions of Windows 10 Server Semi-Annual Channel, Windows 10 IoT LTSC, Windows 10 Server LTSC and Windows 10 Client LTSC will continue to support Internet Explorer 11. Users using Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 will still be able to use it with extended security updates.

Microsoft is committed to maintaining compatibility for legacy websites that were built with Internet Explorer in mind. Microsoft Edge will continue to support IE mode in order to make outdated sites accessible. This successfully retains the use of Internet Explorer while transitioning to Edge’s new technology. IE mode will be supported on Windows 10 Client, Server and IoT editions until the end of 2029, according to Microsoft, with the possibility of an extension. Microsoft expects to make an announcement a year in advance when Internet Explorer is close to being removed from those versions of Windows 10.

Microsoft’s post in 2020 explaining the plan for IE to be retired predicted the discontinuation of the browser, albeit no official announcement was made at the time. In November 2020, Microsoft ended the support for IE11. The next phase is still to come as Microsoft 365 apps will no longer support Internet Explorer after August 2021.