Another quick bit about Windows 10 and Internet Explorer 11: On February 14, 2023 (patch day), Microsoft will automatically disable Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 10 if the program browsing is still active.
From this date onwards, all clicks to Internet Explorer 11 will be redirected to Microsoft Edge.
The end of support for Internet Explorer 11 has been announced for some time now. Internet Explorer 11 is no longer supported as desktop with implemented on some versions of Windows 10 from June 15, 2022.
The only exceptions are Windows 10 LTSC or Windows Server editions. Microsoft had already announced it in May 2021 with this post.
The no-longer-supported version of Internet Explorer 11 will be permanently disabled on some versions of Windows 10 as part of the Windows security update scheduled for February 14, 2023. Specifically, this will happen with two updates:
- January 2023 with the optional preview update (probably on January 17, 2023).
- February 2023 with the Windows 10 security update (to be released on February 14, 2023).
Then all the shortcuts etc. that call IE 11 will be redirected to Edge. There, web pages will be able to be viewed in IE 11 compatibility mode if there are any issues.
Microsoft advises administrators in enterprise environments not to wait for Patch day in February 2023 to configure the IE mode in Microsoft Edge. This is to ensure that Edge redirection works in the enterprise environment. Administrators can then disable IE 11. Microsoft has published instructions here.
The bottom line is that Internet Explorer 11 will probably never be completely removed from Windows 10. Only the GUIs data will be disabled – the Trident (MSHTML) engine will remain in Windows.
