Microsoft recommends an early retirement for Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 11 about page
Internet Explorer 11 about page (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft recommends organizations to retire Internet Explorer early.
  • Internet Explorer will be disabled after June 15, 2022 but companies can shift away from the legacy browser already.
  • Microsoft has tools to help organizations migrate to a more modern browser, including IE mode in Edge.

While everyday users of the web likely moved to Edge or other modern browsers a long time ago, some companies still rely on Internet Explorer for certain sites. Microsoft has warned people about the impending end of Internet Explorer for years. Companies that were proactive and prepared for the switch don't need to wait until the cutoff date to leave Internet Explorer behind.

"Now you just have to wait until IE is disabled after June 15…. Right?" said Aelstyn. "That is one approach, but we know that waiting for something to happen can be stressful, especially with complex IT environments. So instead of waiting, we recommend that you schedule your own internal retirement date—the best way to prepare for IE disablement after June 15, is to proactively retire IE in your organizations before June 15."

The post outlines four steps to prepare to move away from the old browser:

  1. Make sure IE mode is set up!
  2. Schedule your internal IE retirement date
  3. Inform your users and have them import their data
  4. Broadly deploy the Disable IE policy on your internal retirement date

Microsoft also has a collection of resources to help organizations shift from Internet Explorer to a modern alternative. Links to all of the relevant pieces of information are in a list at the bottom of Microsoft's Tech Community post.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.