Microsoft says the Internet Explorer 11 desktop web browser will be disabled on some Windows 10 systems starting today via a Microsoft Edge update.

This follows previous warnings that IE11 would be permanently deactivated this month and one June 15 announcement revealing that the legacy web browser would be disabled via a Windows update.

“As previously announced, the unsupported Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) desktop app will be permanently disabled on some versions of Windows 10 starting today, February 14, 2023,” Microsoft said.

“Devices that have not yet been redirected from IE11 to Microsoft Edge will be redirected with today’s Microsoft Edge update.”

The Edge update is now rolling out to the Microsoft Edge Stable channel over the next week via a phased rollout process.

“Organizations that have already transitioned from IE11 to Microsoft Edge with IE Mode will not be affected by the deactivation. Organizations that have not transitioned to Microsoft Edge with IE Mode may experience an immediate disruption of their business,” the company added.

Microsoft will also remove all IE11 visual references (including taskbar and Start menu icons), starting with the non-security preview release scheduled for May 23.

As of October 2020, IE11 automatically launches Microsoft Edge when visiting incompatible sites.

THE list of incompatible sites includes 7,562 domains from leading online platforms and services, including Facebook, Microsoft Teams, Instagram, Google Drive, Twitter and many more.

IE11 prompted to upgrade to Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has been urging customers to upgrade to Microsoft Edge with IE mode for years because it allows backwards compatibility and will be supported until at least 2029.

To enable IE mode in Microsoft Edge, you need to go to bord://settings/default browseractivate the ‘Allow sites to reload in Internet Explorer‘ and restart the browser – you can read more about IE mode and how to make the change in this Getting Started Guide.

Microsoft first announced plans to drop IE11 support in Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 in August 2020 and released a official retirement announcement in May 2021.

Although officially retired from several versions of Windows 10 on the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) Servicing Channel and no longer shipping with Windows 11, IE11 will remain available on Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) , Windows 8.1 and all versions of Windows 10 LTSC client, Windows Server SAC, Windows Server LTSC and Windows 10 IoT LTSC.

IE11 will continue to receive technical support and security updates on systems running these versions of Windows for the lifecycle of the version of Windows it is running on.