Microsoft is taking further steps to kill off the old Internet Explorer for the new Microsoft Edge browser based on Chromium.
Microsoft has been recommending that users switch to Internet Explorer for years, but it still has share market nearly 5% in browser usage.
But soon Microsoft will take more active steps to cut off access to Internet Explorer.
An attempt to unhook Internet Explorer has already taken action, such as when Internet Explorer visits a site that is incompatible, Microsoft automatically opens Microsoft Edge and tries to continue browsing through it.
Η list of incompatible sites with Internet Explorer currently contains 1.156 websites, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, ESPN, Yahoo Mail and many others.
This redirect is done through an Internet Explorer browser help service called "IEtoEdge BHO", which is installed here: C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Microsoft \ Edge \ Application \ [Edge_version] \ BHO.
While browsing the web, BHO will check if a site is compatible with Internet Explorer. If not, BHO will automatically open the site in Microsoft Edge, which will display a message saying, "This site does not work with Internet Explorer!" as shown below.
At the same time Microsoft Edge will also ask users to migrate them settings, Internet Explorer data and cookies in Microsoft Edge.
In addition to redirects, Microsoft also plans to disable it support for Internet Explorer in various services offered by Microsoft.
In emails to corporate customers, Microsoft warns that from November 13, Internet Explorer will no longer be linked to Microsoft accounts.
In a blog post in August, Microsoft also stated that Microsoft Teams would no longer support Internet Explorer 11 from 30 November.
Microsoft will finally end all support for Internet Explorer in all its services on August 17, 2021.