internet explorer mode in safari

How to view websites on your Mac that require Internet Explorer (or a PC)

Whether you develop for the web and need to see how your site or web app displays itself in multiple browsers, or you just want to visit a site that requires a particular browser that you don't want to use, you may eventually need to use a browser other than Safari. While most of the web is free to access through any browser you'd like, there are occasionally websites (particularly older ones) that need you to use browsers like Internet Explorer, or worse yet, would like you to be on a Windows PC. Or maybe you'd like to see how your site or web app presents itself in Safari on iPhone or iPad, or Chrome on Windows.

Luckily, Safari on Mac has the answer for you. Safari allows you to masquerade as the user of other browsers and Windows through a tool in its Develop menu: changing the user agent. Changing the user agent tells websites that you're using a browser other than the version of Safari that you're using on your Mac. It can event tell a website that you're running Windows. And while Internet Explorer was removed from the default list of user agents in macOS Catalina, you can still add it as on by changing the user agent string manually.

Safari for Mac supports the following user agents:

• Safari for iPhone
• Safari for iPad
• Safari for iPod touch
• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome for Mac
• Google Chrome for Windows
• Firefox for Mac
• Firefox for Windows

Keep in mind that, though Safari will appear to be another browser, it won't actually be that browser. Any web app or site that requires, say, Chrome's Blink rendering engine (which Safari doesn't have) won't work properly, even if Safari's user agent is changed to Google Chrome.

Here's how you go about changing the user agent in Safari.

How to access websites in Safari that require a PC or another browser

• Open Safari from your Dock or Applications folder.
• Click Safari in the Menu bar.

• Click Preferences .
• Click Advanced .

• Check the box next to Show Develop menu in the menu bar .
• Close the Preferences window. The user agent choices will be grayed out and unselectable if you don't.

• Click Develop .
• Hover over User Agent .

• Click on the user agent of the browser you need. If you need to pretend that you're using a PC, choose Microsoft Edge , Google Chrome — Windows , or Firefox — Windows .
• Click Other... if you need to enter a custom user string.

• Enter the user agent string for your desired browser/operating system combination.
• Click OK . Your page will reload with the appropriate user agent.

Doing this should get you through a website detection-checker.

If you have any questions about masquerading Safari as a Windows web browser, let us know in the comments.

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Updated March 2020: Updated through macOS Catalina.

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3 Ways To Use Internet Explorer on a Mac in 2024

If you’ve just switched to Mac from Windows you might have only just realized that Internet Explorer for Mac doesn’t exist . However fear not as here we show you how you can still use it on a Mac.

The problem for Mac users is that some websites such as corporate intranets, HR and banking sites still require Internet Explorer to access them .

Microsoft has since replaced IE on Windows with Microsoft Edge and the company officially discontinued Internet Explorer on all platforms in August 2021.

In some cases, you may be able to just use Microsoft Edge for Mac to access sites that only work with IE.

However, there are still some sites that won’t accept Microsoft Edge and will only work with Internet Explorer so in this article we show you various ways of getting around this.

Quick Navigation

Can You Download IE on a Mac?

1. emulate ie in your browser, 2. run internet explorer in windows, 3. use microsoft edge.

There’s no way to even download IE on Mac anymore because the Mac version was discontinued by Microsoft way back in 2005.

However, there are ways to install Windows on your Mac and then you can download the Windows version of Internet Explorer.

If you search for “download Internet Explorer for Mac” you may find sites that claim to offer it but do not download them as the truth is IE for Mac does not exist anymore .

Some sites claiming that you can download and install IE on a Mac may even install malware on your Mac.

The last version of Internet Explorer that worked on Mac was for OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard which is now obsolete so don’t be fooled by any site that claims you can download it still.

The easiest, quickest and simplest way to run Internet Explorer on Mac works by “fooling” sites into thinking you are using IE even though you are using another browser.

This is free and very easy to do. All you have to do is change a few settings in your browser.

This works with Safari ,  Chrome, Firefox and a lesser known browser called iCab .

It works by activating the Developer Mode in the browser then switching the User Agent to Internet Explorer, making the site think you’re accessing it using IE.

iCab does a similar thing except the ability to switch browser identities is a standard feature.

Follow these instructions to emulate Internet Explorer in each of these browsers starting with Safari .

Safari (only Mojave or earlier)

Important Update: If you’re using macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur or Catalina you can only simulate Microsoft Edge in Safari. You need macOS Mojave or lower to simulate Internet Explorer in Safari.

• Open Safari on your Mac. If you can’t find it, search for “Safari” in Spotlight in the top right of your Mac.
• When Safari is open, select Safari and then Preferences… in the top left corner.

• Select the Advanced tab on the far right. Then select the checkbox “Show Develop menu in menu bar” at the bottom:

• Close the Preferences and you’ll see a new “Develop” option in the Safari Menu Bar at the top of the screen. Click on it and you’ll see the option User Agent . You can then instruct Safari to appear to websites as Internet Explorer.

You should now be able to access sites that require Internet Explorer.

As you can see from the other options available in the User Agent, you can also make Safari pretend your Mac is a PC or Mac using Chrome, Firefox or Opera.

Google Chrome

If you’re using Google Chrome , here’s how to emulate IE on a Mac:

• Go to the View menu at the top of Chrome and select Developer and then Developer Tools .

A panel will open to the right of your browser window.

• Make sure that Console is selected in the upper Menu and then go to the bottom of the browser and click on the three dots next to Console as illustrated by the arrows below:

• From the pop-up Menu that appears, select Network Conditions .

• Next to user agent, deselect the option “Select Automatically” and then click on the Custom Menu and select the version of Internet Explorer you want Chrome to use.

Any websites you visit will then think you are using Internet Explorer on your Mac.

You can leave the console open or close it.

When you close the tab completely, Chrome will revert to being Chrome again – there’s no further action needed on your part.

If you have problems doing this, an even easier solution is to use the Chrome Agent Switcher Plugin .

This automatically allows you to select which browser you want Chrome to appear as.

You can run also emulate Internet Explorer in Firefox although it’s slightly more complicated and messy than doing it via Safari or Chrome.

However, the process is made incredibly easy if you just install the User-Agent Switcher Add-On for Firefox .

This useful Add-On allows you to easily select what you want Firefox to run as, including Internet Explorer.

As you can see, you can even make Firefox appear like it’s also a mobile device or even coming from an entirely different operating system such as Windows or Linux.

iCab is a free browser that like Safari, allows you to run as Internet Explorer on your Mac.

It’s also a pretty darn quick browser too although a bit dated nowadays.

Here’s how to run IE on your Mac using iCab.

• Download and install iCab . Open iCab – you don’t even need to drag it into your Applications folder. You can just double click on the iCab icon.
• When iCab is open, simply go to View then Browser Identity and select one of the Internet Explorer options.

Unlike with the Safari method, you can even disguise iCab as the last version of Internet Explorer that ever worked on Mac – Internet Explorer 5.2.

Beyond that though, iCab only goes up to Internet Explorer 7.0 on Windows which some sites may not support but if you’ve had no luck with Safari, iCab is definitely worth a shot.

Running Windows on your Mac is the surest way to access sites that will only work with Internet Explorer.

Although the second method covered here (emulation) will work for most sites, there are some websites that simply can’t be fooled into thinking you’re using Internet Explorer on a Mac.

This is definitely the case for websites that require Microsoft ActiveX .

For those sites, the only option is to install Windows on your Mac .

Running Windows in a Virtual Machine

The easiest way to do this is using a virtual machine which allows you to run macOS and Windows at the same time so you can switch between them easily.

The best VM to do this is Parallels which is the only way to run Windows on a Mac that is officially endorsed by Microsoft .

Running Windows on your Mac almost guarantees access to any IE only or Edge only sites on Mac.

Effectively, you are emulating a PC on your Mac so it’s just like accessing a website as if you were a PC user using Internet Explore or Edge.

You can read more in our full review of Parallels .

You can also read more about the best virtual machines for Mac here.

Running Windows in Boot Camp

Alternatively, you can also install Windows in a partition on your Mac hard drive using Boot Camp so you can boot your Mac in Windows.

Because Boot Camp is free in macOS, it allows you to install Windows for free on a Mac.

The disadvantage of Boot Camp compared to Parallels however is that you can’t switch between macOS and Windows at the same time – you have to boot your Mac in either macOS or Windows and therefore only use one operating system at one time.

Boot Camp also doesn’t work with Apple Silicon Macs so if you want to install IE on an M-series Mac, you have to use Parallels.

Some sites that require Internet Explorer may work with Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge is Microsoft’s replacement for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge for Mac is now available.

However, it’s a completely different browser to IE and it’s quite possible that websites that only work in IE, won’t work in Microsoft Edge.

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You can’t open the application “Microsoft Edge” because this application is not supported on this Mac. What to do?

It’s important to install the right version of Edge for your Mac depending on whether you have an Intel or Apple Silicon M1/M2 Mac.

I’m using Safari on Catalina… It shows just Crhome, Safari and Firefox in that list…

Unfortunately if you’re using Catalina or above, you can’t simulate Internet Explorer in Safari but you can simulate Microsoft Edge. You need macOS Mojave or lower for Internet Explorer to appear in the User Agent list.

I had the same problem and can’t find the code.

Which browser are you using to emulate Internet Explorer?

Thank you for this!! worked great on Chrome for me

IE doesn’t show up in the options list on macOS catalina. What is the code to enter this custom?

There are also some extensions/addons and themes for Firefox to make it look more like IE. Take a look here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-CA/firefox/search/?platform=mac&q=internet%20explorer

Alternatives to installing Windows on Mac include VMWare Fusion (which I think has a better licensing model) and VirtualBox (which is free). Both of these require Windows licenses. There are also CrossOver and its free counterpart, Wine which allow the installation of several Windows software without installing Windows. Then you would have to get separate installation of IE for Windows.

Thanks for this post. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I did everything you mentioned in regards to using IE11 on Chrome. How can you tell it’s using IE11? I couldn’t tell. It looked as if I was still using Chrome

The browser will always look like Chrome but the website you are accessing will think that you’re using Internet Explorer.

This doesn’t work anymore. Remote.ie was pulled by Microsoft it looks like.

Remote.ie has been pulled by Microsoft unfortunately but the article has been updated with other ways to run internet explorer on Mac.

Microsoft Remote Desktop IE keeps timing me out even though I am still using the website! I’m trying to fill out an important job application and its timed me out twice on Microsoft Remote Desktop IE and when I used a PC just that one website stopped responding and it’s pissing me off. The application is long and I don’t have unlimited time to do this application over and over again. Is there a way to change the time-out settings from 2 minutes to a longer amount of time? Or can I get Remote IE to at least pop-up with a time-out warning before it times me out and logs off so I don’t loose all of my work?

The job application will require me to upload a MS Word document of my resume from my Mac, will this Remote IE allow me to do this?

Yes you will be able to upload a Word document on your Mac using Remote IE. The timeout issue you are having is a more difficult problem to resolve. You need to identify whether it is coming from the RDS side or Microsoft Azure side. This conversation on the topic may help you or this configure timeout guide from Microsoft for Remote Desktop may help too. Let us know if you figure out the problem.

I went to the website in the Remote.IE link in No.1, I logged in, and also installed the Microsoft Remote Desktop but I don’t see IE as an option for a Remote App. What am I doing wrong?

Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes for Azure to “hook-up” with IE. Trying closing Remote Desktop and then reopening it a few minutes later. Keep clicking on the Microsoft Remote App to keep refreshing it if still don’t see it. If this doesn’t work, also check: – Make sure you’ve signed into Azure remote app using the same credentials as when you signed-up for it. – Make sure you’ve received the email saying your account is ready (check your spam too) If you still don’t see it, log into the Remote App site and click the “Remote” tab and select the correct region where you are located. Hope this helps!

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How to Run Internet Explorer On A Mac

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Switching from a PC to Mac means that, apart from shifting from WindowsOS to macOS, you have to get used to a number of new applications. A Windows staple, Internet Explorer, now Microsoft Edge, is also, unfortunately, not a part of the macOS. Apple has its own browser named Safari. However, if you’re familiar with Internet Explorer or want to try it out on your Mac, we’ve created this guide for you. It will teach you how to run Internet Explorer on a Mac .  

Now, since you cannot officially download the browser on Mac, we’ve tried and tested a few alternate methods to get it. 

Hey, I, Kanika, have curated this extensive guide showing how to access Internet Explorer on your Mac. So keep reading to know more.

Can you run Internet Explorer on a Mac?

While you cannot directly download Internet Explorer on a Mac, other safe and effective methods exist. The best method is simply downloading Windows OS on your Mac and then using Internet Explorer. For this, you will need to install Parallels on your MacBook.

Parallels is a virtual machine that allows you to download the Windows OS onto your MacBook, which can then support your gadget to host Internet Explorer. 

You can also try other methods involving different tools and third-party apps. All the methods are tried and tested to help you download and run Internet Explorer on Mac. So, stick with us, and let us find out how.

Why do we Run Internet Explorer on Mac?

It is not a common phenomenon that users prefer running Internet Explorer on Mac. However, there are still certain websites and applications that are IE compliant; thus, you will need Internet Explorer on your system to run their best versions.

Furthermore, certain developers or users like yourself might need the browser for testing or even checking the compatibility of extensions, apps, sites, etc.; hence, having Internet Explorer on a Mac is handy in these circumstances. 

Several methods might contribute to running IE effectively on your Mac. Keep reading to know more!

How can you run Internet Explorer on a Mac?

Let us look at all the methods and steps to run Internet Explorer on your Mac. Make sure to back up all your data before trying out any of the steps below to be safe. Here we go.

Method 1: Using a Virtual Machine (Parallels)

A virtual machine allows you to experiment safely with a different operating system on your Mac. This is not the easiest method, but it can be quite useful as it lets you emulate another operating system. So, you can use it to run other applications that are unavailable on the macOS as well. 

To run Internet Explorer, you need to download Parallels on your macOS. It is versatile as it supports both Intel and silicon Mac chips.

Here are the steps to download Windows OS on your Mac and eventually run Internet Explorer.

• Open the official site for Parallels and download the software
• Double-click on the file and install it.
• Now, choose from the given option on your screen: Get Windows 11 from Microsoft and Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file.

Note: Windows 11 does not support IE in any manner. However, if you want to use IE Mode in Microsoft Edge, you can download the 11 OS. Or else, the best chance here is to download the ISO image file for Windows 10 and then download Windows 10 on your Mac.

• After selecting the Windows version, you want to install, click on Install Windows and begin the process.

From here, you can then use Internet Explorer directly on your Windows 10 OS. Also, if you are using Mac M1 & M2, remember that Parallels do not support any other version of Windows apart from 11. Of course, you can also download different versions, but Parallels will not support any issues you come across during installation or further.

Method 2: Use Wine/WineBottler

Another software we can use here instead of an emulator or virtual machine is WineBottler. 

Let us look at the steps you can follow.

• Download the Wine and WineBottler package from its official site .
• To install the app, open the .dmg file and add them to the Applications.
• Now, open the Winebottler app.
• Under the Download menu, go to Browser.
• Here, select the version of Internet Explorer you want to download on your Mac and click on Install.

The software will now download on your Mac, and you can use it without downloading Windows OS.

Method 3: Emulate IE using Google Chrome

You might have come across multiple sites asking you to emulate IE in Safari; however, you can no more do it on your Macs. Once you open the Developer option, the list does not have the option for Internet Explorer; rather only has Microsoft Edge.

So, we will be using Google Chrome Instead to emulate IE. So, keep reading and follow the steps.

• Open a new tab on your Google Chrome and click on View.
• Now, select the Developer option and choose Developer Tools.
• Select Console from the menu above and then click on the three dots below.
• Select Network Conditions.
• Scroll down and uncheck the box beside the Use Browser Default option.
• Click the menu option below it and scroll down. Select the Internet Explorer version from here.
• Check the box beside Use Browser Default to save the settings.

And that’s it!! Even though you may not be able to download Internet Explorer directly on your Mac, this will work to run sites that are only meant to run on IE.

Method 4: Use BootCamp to Run Windows on Mac

Another method you can try to run Windows on your Mac is BootCamp. Now, the only disadvantage of using this option is that it is not available for M series MacBooks. However, you can run any version of Windows easily and switch between macOS and WindowsOS as needed.

• Open BootCamp assistant on your Mac
• Select the right partition for both macOS and Windows OS on your screen.
• Download the Windows 10 ISO file image from the Microsoft website and add it to the screen by clicking on Choose.
• From here, click on Install, and it will immediately start installing Windows operating system on your Mac.
• After this, to set up Boot Camp Installer on Mac, press Next to continue.

From here, simply select the option as needed on your screen. Once everything is done, you can select Finish, and you are good to go. Now, you can start using Internet Explorer on a Mac.

Method 5: Use Microsoft Edge IE Mode

You can download Windows 11 on your Mac using Parallels and choose to run IE through this method. Now, there is no direct method to download Internet Explorer as we have already discussed before on Windows 11, but you can take the help of Microsoft Edge and run different sites in IE Mode when needed. Here is how you can do it.

• Open Microsoft Edge on Windows OS
• Click on the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner of the tab
• Open Settings and choose Default Browser from the side menu options
• Under the Internet Explorer Compatibility menu, go to Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer Mode (IE mode)
• Beside it, click on the drop-down menu and select Allow

To save the settings here, you need to restart your system. From here, whenever any site requires Internet Explorer for compatibility, you can simply reload it in IE Mode.

• Open any site on your Microsoft Edge, and open the three horizontal dots on the top-right corner of the tab.
• Now, click on Run in Internet Explorer Mode

Frequently Asked Questions

1. is internet explorer free for mac.

Yes, you can get Internet Explorer free for Mac. Although downloading the software does not cost you, the process required to run IE can be time-consuming.

2. Is Microsoft Edge the same as Internet Explorer?

No, Microsoft Edge is not the same as Internet Explorer. Although users believe that the software has been simply replaced; however, that is not the case. Microsoft has made the Edge browser to be faster and more reliable as compared to IE. Furthermore, the support for Active X plugins has been removed, making it more secure than IE.

3. Can I still use Internet Explorer after 2022?

No, you will not be able to use Internet Explorer after 2022. The latest version, IE11, is said to be permanently disabled on February 14, 2023, on most Windows 10 versions. Hence, it is likely that you will never be able to access it.

4. What is the latest version of Internet Explorer?

The latest version of Internet Explorer is 11.0.1000 (11.0.19044.2130), which was updated on October 11, 2022.

Here we are with all you need to know whether you can run Internet Explorer on a Mac or not. The conclusion from the guide is that, yes, we can run IE on Mac. All the methods mentioned are tried and tested; hence, ensure you follow the steps carefully.

You can download Windows OS on your Mac to run not only IE but also other apps that are not available for macOS. Or else, you can use the WineBottler app and download the Internet Explorer app directly on your Mac.

Furthermore, if you do not have any essential need for Internet Explorer, it is better to download the Microsoft Edge browser, which is much more stable and secure.

If you enjoyed reading this article, share it with your friends and check out our website for other interesting blog posts on MacBooks!

Kanika Modi

Kanika is a Tech Enthusiast who is looking to add meaning to what people read. She has been writing on Apple devices and products for 7 years now and continues to share the solution to your everyday issues with everything technology.

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Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge

Some sites are built to work with Internet Explorer and have functionality that isn't supported by modern browsers such as Microsoft Edge. If you need to view one of these sites, you can use Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge. 

Most sites work better on modern browsers. Support for Internet Explorer ended on June 15, 2022. We recommend only using Internet Explorer mode within Microsoft Edge only when necessary. For more information, see Learn More about Microsoft Edge . 

To turn on Internet Explorer mode, use the following steps. 

In the address bar for Microsoft Edge, type edge://settings/defaultbrowser and then click Enter.

Slide the Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer toggle to ON .

Restart Microsoft Edge.

Internet Explorer mode is now enabled. To view a website using Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge, use the following steps.

Navigate to the website you want to view in Internet Explorer mode.

Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window.

Select Reload in Internet Explorer Mode . If you are on Microsoft Edge version 92 or earlier select More tools > Reload in Internet Explorer Mode

To return to browsing without Internet Explorer mode, you can click Leave on the information bar at the top of the screen, or close your current tab and open a new tab in Microsoft Edge. 

NOTE: If you are on a device managed by your organization with the latest Windows updates, you will see the option to  Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer  under  edge://settings/defaultbrowser  but the setting might be greyed out. On a managed device, you will see the option  Reload in Internet Explorer mode ONLY if your organization has configured the policy to "Allow unconfigured sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode". See  Microsoft Edge Browser Policy Documentation .

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How to Run Internet Explorer on Your Mac (and Why You Might Want To)

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Choosing your internet browser is not a decision to be taken lightly, yet it is an issue that very few users give careful consideration to. We've come a long way from the initial days, where Apple's Safari and Microsoft's Internet Explorer were slow and insecure internet browsers. People now prefer to use Safari and Microsoft Edge over third-party browsers, largely down to the fact that they're installed by default and are provided by the manufacturer itself.

Although Windows now officially ships with Microsoft Edge, some people still remember the good old Internet Explorer days and wonder if they can get the same experience on their Mac. Today we'll look at whether installing Internet Explorer on a Mac is even possible, and what are the viable alternates.

Can You Install Internet Explorer on a Mac?

Microsoft hasn't released an official Mac version of Internet Explorer since version 5.2.3 in 2005, which means that the browser isn't officially supported on macOS. This makes sense, seeing it was once a Windows exclusive browser, and Microsoft has shifted to Microsoft Edge in recent years. The last version of Internet Explorer was supported pre-OS X 10.6, and we strongly advise against running those insecure operating system versions in today's modern internet era.

You Can Trick Websites Into Thinking You're Using Internet Explorer

Believe it or not, there are still a few websites that haven't been updated for many years and still only support Internet Explorer browsers. While it's very unlikely you'll encounter such websites today, they still exist, and won't allow you to access them without Internet Explorer.

If that's the case for you, there's a small workaround that involves tricking the website about your browser by following our guide to change your "user agent" .

A user agent is a string of text that tells the website which browser and operating system you're using. For example, it'll tell a website that you're running Google Chrome on macOS, which will then adjust any settings (if needed) for the specific browser. You can use this trick to access Internet Explorer-only websites on another browser, such as Chrome or Safari.

Related: Safari vs. Chrome for Mac: Reasons You Shouldn't Use Chrome

The workaround works most of the time; however, it's not that secure in terms of privacy. It should get the job done for small tasks though

Use Microsoft Edge Instead

Chances are that the reason you're trying to install Internet Explorer on your Mac is for a unified experience across your Windows and Mac platforms. This is not uncommon—macOS can be intimidating at first for new users moving over from Windows. If you're looking for a similar browser experience, we recommend installing and using Microsoft Edge on your Mac.

Microsoft Edge for macOS is officially supported by Microsoft and works similar to the Windows version. You can use this to import your internet settings, bookmarks, and more from your Windows PC and get settled in, before looking towards other browsers.

Related: Microsoft Edge for Mac: Should You Use Microsoft's Browser?

The most obvious benefit of using Microsoft Edge on your Mac is to help synchronize your life across multiple machines.

Whether or not you actually like Microsoft's offering, there are a huge number of people who are forced to use Microsoft Edge all day in their offices only to go home at night to their Macs with no way to continue their sessions or easily migrate their data. If you're one of those people, having the same browser on all your frequently used machines could remove a huge headache.

Use Virtual Apps to Run Internet Explorer

There are specific apps that allow you to run virtual software inside them—which can be used to run Internet Explorer in a virtual environment on macOS. The process is a bit lengthy, so we only recommend you turn towards them if the user agent method does not work for you.

Whereas it's possible to use various virtual environments and Boot Camp to get it running, the fastest and simplest way to do it is by using a program called WineBottler. Se'll run through the two most common methods below—WineBottler and VirtualBox.

WineBottler

Like Wine for Linux , this software enables you run a range of Windows-based programs on your Mac without worrying about the hassle of booting multiple operating systems or splashing out on an expensive Windows license.

You can grab the software from the developer website and install it in the usual way (making sure to move both the "Wine" and "WineBottler" files into your apps folder).

The program is actually very powerful and can be configured to read multiple prefixes and install a wide range of software. Luckily, Internet Explorer is one of the default offerings and you'll be given an option to download it on the page that you see when you run WineBottler for the first time.

The latest available release is Internet Explorer 8. Select it and click on Install , then choose where you want to save it (typically the application folder). WineBottler will take care of the rest.

Once the process has finished, just launch the newly installed app from wherever you chose to save it and you're ready to go.

VirtualBox, which is developed by Oracle and free to use, lets you run various operating systems in a virtual environment on your Mac .

Firstly, you'll need to download both the VirtualBox software and its extension pack. You can get them both from Softpedia . Install the software DMG file first.

Once that's done you'll need to run the VirtualBox manager, then immediately close it again. This allows the system to log some necessary information. Next, open your Mac's Terminal app (you'll find it in the Utilites folder in either your Finder or Launchpad) and paste in the command that matches the version of Internet Explorer which you'd like to install below.

For Internet Explorer 11 only, Windows 7 image:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="11" bash

For Internet Explorer 10 only:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="10" bash

For Internet Explorer 9 only:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="9" bash

For Internet Explorer 8 only, Windows XP, small image:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="8" bash

For Internet Explorer 7 only, Windows XP, small image:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xdissent/ievms/master/ievms.sh | IEVMS_VERSIONS="7" bash

It's worth mentioning that people with older Macs should probably choose a version that uses Windows XP—although it's old and unsupported it will suffice for small usage, and will be much less of a drain on your system's resources.

That's it. Wait for the file to download (sometimes taking up to two hours) and run the virtual machine. You'll be prompted to install the updates and turn on automatic updates (neither of which are strictly necessary), then you'll be presented with the Windows desktop along with the version of Internet Explorer that you selected from the list above.

Why Use Internet Explorer on a Mac?

It's all well-and-good installing Internet Explorer on your Mac, but why should you? What benefits does it bring?

There were many websites that were specifically designed with Internet Explorer as their main priority—certainly, websites that were published pre-2010, the year Chrome started its meteoric rise. It's often the case that Internet Explorer renders these older sites much more reliably than some of its competitors, and due to its ActiveX technology it's also often simpler to use it with business-related sites such as Webex or HTML IT consoles like Kaseya.

However, Internet Explorer has been officially discontinued by Microsoft, which means you should not be using it except for exceptional circumstances.

There is a school of thought that suggests you should always have at least two browsers installed, and whether you choose to make Safari, Chrome, or Firefox your primary tool, there are few better options than Internet Explorer as a backup.

Microsoft Edge: A Modern-Era Internet Explorer?

Microsoft discontinued Internet Explorer in 2020, and the browser will be officially retired on June 30, 2022. We believe this is for the best—Microsoft Edge has taken the reins and has proved to be a much better, stable, and reliable browser. You can install Edge on your Mac for a unified experience across your Windows and Mac platforms. Keep in mind you can also do the same with other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari—all of which offer cross-platform support.

In any case, we don't recommend using Internet Explorer on your Mac. But if you need to do so in exceptional cases, the methods above should help you out.

• Internet Explorer

How-To Geek

How to use internet explorer mode in edge.

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Key Takeaways

To use Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge, open Edge's default browser settings and enable "Allow Sites to be Reloaded in Internet Explorer Mode," then restart the browser. Activate Internet Explorer mode by right-clicking on a tab and selecting "Reload Tab in Internet Explorer Mode."

If you're browsing with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 or 11 and you visit a site that needs Internet Explorer to work properly, you're in luck. Edge includes an "Internet Explorer mode" for compatibility. Here's how to use it.

Microsoft Edge's modern browsing engine is more secure (and faster) than Internet Explorer's old one. You should only use IE mode when absolutely necessary: For example, to access old websites that were designed for Internet Explorer and don't work properly in modern web browsers.

First, open Edge. In the upper-right corner of any window, click the ellipses button (three dots) and select "Settings" in the menu that appears.

When the Settings tab opens, expand the window until you see the Settings sidebar. Click "Default Browser."

In Default Browser settings, locate the "Internet Explorer Compatibility" section. Using the drop-down menu beside "Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode," select "Allow." Then click "Restart" to restart your browser.

After Edge reloads, browse to the site you'd like to load in Internet Explorer mode. To switch to IE mode, click the ellipses (three dots) button and select "Reload in Internet Explorer mode." Or you can right-click the tab and select "Reload tab in Internet Explorer mode."

Edge will reload the site in the Internet Explorer engine, and you'll see an Internet Explorer icon in the left side of the address bar reminding you that you're in IE mode.

You'll also see a strip across the top of the website just under the address bar. If you want to reload the site in Edge, click "Open in Microsoft Edge." You can also click "Show in Toolbar" to add an icon to your toolbar that you can click to leave IE mode.

Now you can browse as you normally would. To leave Internet Explorer mode, close the tab or click the "Leave IE mode" icon in the toolbar if you added it in the step above.

If you'd like to permanently open a certain website in IE mode, click the IE logo in the address bar and flip the switch beside "Open this page in Internet Explorer mode next time." Or you can open Settings > Default Browser, then select "Add." In the "Add a Page" dialog that pops up, type in the address of the site you'd like to always use in IE mode, then click "Add."

From now on, that website will always load in IE mode for compatibility purposes. Due to possible security risks, Microsoft recommends not using IE mode longer than necessary. Happy browsing!

• Web Browsers
• Microsoft Edge

• Knowledge Base

How to Use Internet Explorer on Mac | 9 Ways

As web developers, we often have to test out how websites look across different devices and browsers. Of course, most of the traffic comes from mobile these days, and on computers, the market is dominated by Google Chrome. But we need to ensure to go all the way in and test out compatibility on browsers like Internet Explorer, which many people still use.

In the initial days of the Mac, Internet Explorer used to be the default browser on these machines. However, Apple did not like the way Microsoft would handle updates to the browser. As a result, many features would first come to Windows machines and eventually come to the Mac. This is why Apple created its own in-house solution for this – Safari. This is also why Apple has now come up with its own silicon chip instead of relying on Intel for more than a decade.

However, now, the problem is, there’s no direct support for Internet Explorer on Mac. This is why if you are a developer or just someone who wants to test IE on your Mac, there are various workarounds that you need to follow. If you own a Mac and want to test your features, here is how you can use Internet Explorer on your Mac.

Also read: 7 Essential Apps Every Mac User Must Have

📖 Table of Contents

List of Best Ways to Use Internet Explorer on Mac

1. local virtual machines.

Using Local Virtual Machines is one of the best ways to get Internet Explorer on your Mac device. Virtual Machines are essentially a virtual setup of physical machines that runs a different operating system along with your existing operating system.

You can create Windows Virtual Machine over MacOS, which will allow you to run Internet Explorer on your Mac. One of the best ways you can do it is using Parallel Desktop . It can be used to emulate both Windows on Mac and Mac on Windows as well. There is also an option of using Oracle Virtual Box if that’s something you would like to go for.

2. Cross-Browser Testing Tools

Cross-Browser testing allows you to test your website on all major browser and browser versions of your own choice. This is perhaps the most suitable way of testing your websites and web apps on a browser like Internet Explorer. The setup allows you to get instant remote access to real machines running Internet Explorer on a Windows machine. These are more resourceful and highly cost-effective in terms of speed, performance, and reliability.

One of the best cross-platform tools is LambdaTest. It allows you to use Internet Explorer on your Mac without having to install any additional software. Alternatively, you can also get the facility to run other browsers and versions of your choice on your own machine locally.

LambdaTest allows you to test your website on more than 2000 real browsers running on machines hosted on the cloud on their servers. You can also perform parallel testing and test on browsers apart from Internet Explorer as well.

3. Using Safari

Yes, you read it right. You can actually use Safari to simulate how your website will look on Internet Explorer. To do this, you need to turn on the Developer Tools on your Safari browser. Here’s how to do that:

• Go to Preferences > Advanced.
• Check the Show Develop menu in the menu bar.

Congrats! You have now successfully turned on Developer tools on Safari. To use Internet Explorer on your Mac,

• Go to the Develop menu in Safari’s menu bar.
• Now head down to User Agent and select the browser, Internet Explorer, in our case.
• The website you were currently on will now refresh automatically to how it would look if it were running on Internet Explorer.
• Once you are done, you can switch back to the native version of Safari on your Mac.

4. Virtual Machine Setup from Microsoft

Even after Microsoft has officially discontinued further development of Internet Explorer, it still provides a convenient method for testing out Internet Explorer on MacOS with the help of virtual machines.

To do this, you need to head over to the official website and select your choice of browser and operating system along with the virtual machine you want to test it on.

Once selected, you will get a zip file that can run the browser version you earlier selected. Microsoft notes that this virtual machine will expire after 90 days. You will also need unzipping software to unzip the package on your Mac device.

5. Remote Desktop Application

Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Application allows you to operate another PC from a PC or a Mac remotely. For this, you would require access to someone else’s Windows PC. If you manage to get one, you can connect your Mac to this PC remotely and test out Internet Explorer on this computer.

Download the official remote desktop client for macOS

There are also cloud-based solutions such as Azure to get a Windows virtual machine. Many are available with Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge pre-installed on them.

6. Extensions

There are plenty of extensions on both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge that simulate the web pages as if they were rendered by Internet Explorer. One such extension is the IE Tab . It is available on Google Chrome and has got pretty good ratings on the Chrome Web Store. The extension is developed in Taiwan and is just 816KB in size.

Just head over to the Chrome Web Store and install the extension. Then click on the extension to follow further instructions.

7. WineBottler

WineBottler is a specialized application created for macOS that allows you to run Windows-based programs on the operating system without installing virtual machines on top of your software. You can download the Windows version of any software (.exe) and run the application through WineBottler just like you would with any other application designed for the Mac.

This software runs the .exe application without converting it into a Mac-supported version and is also free of cost!

The software is popular among gamers who want to try games created for Windows machines on their Apple devices. But you can also use this to download legacy Windows software such as Internet Explorer and run it on Mac.

8. Boot Camp Assistant

Boot Camp is a prebuilt software that allows you to install other operating systems on your Mac and boot them as you need. This means that you can also install Windows on your Mac and switch between these two operating systems as you wish. This is similar to Windows’ version of Dual Boot.

However, you would have to restart the device every time you would want to boot into the other operating system. Also, Boot Camp only supports Windows 10 as of now, which means you cannot go back to previous Windows versions. However, this could be manageable if you want to test some light features on Internet Explorer.

Boot Camp Assistant is available in the Utilities folder on your Mac.

Note: At the time of writing this article, Boot Camp is not compatible with Apple Silicon based Macs.

9. Remote Internet Explorer

To help with cross-browser compatibility, Microsoft created Azure Remote application called RemoteIE, which essentially allows you to run Internet Explorer on your system irrespective of which operating system you are running. This is almost like using a Virtual Machine, but everything is on the cloud instead of your own system.

The application that streams everything from the cloud to your device is called Microsoft Azure hosted IE environment that can test your website on Internet Explorer. This was a great way of providing developers the facility to use Internet Explorer on their Mac devices.

However, the project is now discontinued since Microsoft is now paving the way for its new chromium-based Edge browser. As a result, the Remote IE page now redirects you to Remote Edge, one that essentially does the same job.

Also read: 10 Best Apple Mail Alternatives for Mac & iPhone

Final Words

These were the best ways you can run Internet Explorer on your Mac. Unfortunately, it is also perhaps the most memed browser of all times, infamous for its slow rendering speeds. Nevertheless, it is still useful for many, and this is how you can run Internet Explorer on your macOS-powered machines. If you found this article useful, please let us know down below in the comments section. Also, if you find any problem with the above methods, we will be more than happy to help you.

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Use DevTools in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode)

• 7 contributors

Internet Explorer mode (IE mode) integrates with Microsoft Edge DevTools. IE mode allows enterprises to specify a list of websites that only work in Internet Explorer 11. When you navigate to these websites in Microsoft Edge, an instance of Internet Explorer 11 runs and renders the site in a tab.

IE mode allows enterprises to manage compatibility with technologies that are currently not compatible with any modern web browsers.

Support for the following technologies is included in IE mode:

• IE document modes.
• ActiveX controls.
• Other legacy components.

In IE mode, the rendering process is based on Internet Explorer 11. The Microsoft Edge process manager handles the lifetime of the rendering process. The rendering process is constrained to the lifetime of the tab for a specific site (or app). When a tab renders in IE mode, the IE mode indicator icon appears in the address bar for the specific tab.

IE mode is available on Windows 10 Version 1903 (May 2019 Update), and is coming to all supported Windows platforms.

Open DevTools on a tab in IE mode

The IE mode indicator icon appears in the address bar if the Enterprise admin has configured the website to appear in IE mode. To view the compatibility mode of a website in IE mode, click the IE mode indicator icon in the address bar:

If a tab uses IE mode, the tab has the following limitations:

Inspect Element isn't visible on the right-click menu.

Right-clicking and then selecting View Source launches Notepad.

Pressing F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I opens a blank instance of the Microsoft Edge DevTools and displays the following message: Developer Tools are not available in Internet Explorer mode. To debug the page, open the page in IEChoose.

To debug the content of an IE mode tab, use IEChooser to open Internet Explorer DevTools, as follows:

In Windows, open the Run dialog. For example, press Windows logo key + R .

Enter %systemroot%\system32\f12\IEChooser.exe , and then click OK .

In IEChooser, select the entry for the IE mode tab.

Remote debugging in IE mode

Launch Microsoft Edge with remote debugging turned on from the command-line interface. Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, and other development tools typically run a command to launch Microsoft Edge. The following command launches Microsoft Edge with the remote debugging port set to 9222 .

After you launch Microsoft Edge using a command-line argument, IE mode is unavailable. You can still navigate to websites (or apps) that are otherwise displayed in IE mode. The website (or app) content renders using Chromium, not Internet Explorer 11. Parts of the webpages that rely on Internet Explorer 11, such as ActiveX controls, might not render correctly. The IE mode indicator icon doesn't appear in the address bar.

IE mode remains unavailable until you close and restart Microsoft Edge.

Replace Internet Explorer automation

If you have an existing application that uses the InternetExplorer object to automate Internet Explorer 11, but the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application isn't available, your application won't work. Internet Explorer 11 will be retired on June 15, 2022. See The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge .

Microsoft Edge doesn't support automating IE mode through the InternetExplorer object, so applications that rely on this object will need to be updated, by using one of the recommended alternatives below. Applications that use the WebBrowser control will continue to work, and won't be affected by the removal of Internet Explorer 11.

If your automation application doesn't require IE mode for the website (or app) content to function correctly, we recommend updating your application to use Microsoft Edge instead of Internet Explorer 11. Many available automation tools support Microsoft Edge, including WebDriver and Playwright.

• To learn more about automating Microsoft Edge using WebDriver, see Use WebDriver to automate Microsoft Edge .
• To learn more about using Playwright, see Use Playwright to automate and test in Microsoft Edge .

Applications that require IE mode for the website (or app) content to function correctly should use the WebBrowser control. The WebBrowser control uses the Internet Explorer platform (MSHTML/Trident) to render web content, and will work even if the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application isn't available.

• What is Internet Explorer (IE) mode?
• Configure IE mode policies
• Fix web compatibility issues using document modes and the Enterprise Mode site list

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Additional resources

How to Enable and Use IE Mode Compatibility in Edge Browser

Open legacy websites without Internet Explorer with Internet Explorer (IE) mode in Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge's Internet Explorer (IE) mode allows organizations to continue using their existing websites and applications dependent on Internet Explorer even after IE has been discontinued on June 15, 2022.

Enabling IE Mode in Edge

To enable IE compatibility mode in Edge, click on the ‘Settings and more’ icon near the top-right corner or press ALT + F, to launch the menu.

Next, select ‘Settings’ from the list of options in Edge menu.

You will now find several tabs listed on the left; select ‘Default browser’.

Now under ‘Internet Explorer compatibility’, click on the drop-down menu next to ‘Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode’, and select ‘Allow’.

You will need to restart the browser for the change to take effect. To do that, click on the ‘Restart’ option that appears.

Opening a Website in IE Mode on Edge

Once you have enabled the compatibility or IE mode on Edge in settings, you can easily open a website in this mode.

To open a website in Compatibility or IE mode on Edge , first, open it as you normally do. Then, right-click on the tab and select ‘Reload tab in Internet Explorer mode’ from the menu.

Any website open in compatibility or IE mode will display the Internet Explorer icon at the left of the navigation bar. Also, click ‘Done’ on the menu that appears.

To exit the Internet Explorer mode for a website on Edge , right-click on the tab again and select ‘Exit tab from Internet Explorer mode’.

Always Opening a Website in Compatibility Mode

Once IE mode is activated, you must switch modes each time you visit a website. To avoid this, configure the URL to open automatically in IE mode for the next 30 days.

Whenever you open a website and switch to IE mode, a menu pops up mentioning the same. Just enable the toggle for ‘Open this page in Internet Explorer mode next time’ and click on ‘Done’ to save the changes.

You can verify the list of websites or URLs that have been configured to open in IE mode under the ‘Internet Explorer mode pages’ section in the ‘Default Browser’ settings. It mentions both the dates, when the website was added to the list and the date on which it would automatically be removed (on completion of the 30 day period).

Microsoft Edge's IE Mode compatibility is a valuable tool for organizations that must continue using websites and applications designed for Internet Explorer. By enabling IE Mode, you can ensure that these websites and applications will continue to work even after IE is discontinued.

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The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge

• Sean Lyndersay, General Manager, Microsoft Edge Enterprise

Update: The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ .

For our readers in Japan and Korea, please use these links:

한국어 블로그와 FAQ 는, 여기를 참조하세요 .

本ブログの日本語版は こちらです 。

Over the last year, you may have noticed our movement away from Internet Explorer (“IE”) support, such as an announcement of the end of IE support by Microsoft 365 online services . Today, we are at the next stage of that journey: we are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications. Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge. With Microsoft Edge capable of assuming this responsibility and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10 .

Note: This retirement does not affect in-market Windows 10 LTSC or Server Internet Explorer 11 desktop applications. It also does not affect the MSHTML (Trident) engine. For a full list of what is in scope for this announcement, and for other technical questions, please see our FAQ .

With Microsoft Edge, we provide a path to the web’s future while still respecting the web’s past. Change was necessary, but we didn’t want to leave reliable, still-functioning websites and applications behind. We’re here to help you transition to the more comprehensive browsing experience of Microsoft Edge and tell you a bit more about why we think it will address your needs, both at home and at work.

Reason #1 – Improved compatibility

With Microsoft Edge, you get a dual engine advantage that supports both legacy and modern websites. Internet Explorer mode gives you built-in legacy browser support for websites and applications that still require Internet Explorer. In fact, Microsoft Edge is the only browser with built-in compatibility for legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications, including support for functionality like ActiveX controls . Microsoft Edge is also built on the Chromium project – the technology that powers many of today’s browsers – which means it delivers world-class support for modern sites. With the dual engine advantage, you get the best of web, both past and future.

Reason #2 – Streamlined productivity

Having to use different browsers for different tasks can be frustrating. You may want to stay in a modern browser, but a public website or internal work app may only work in Internet Explorer. That’s where Microsoft Edge comes in. Its dual engine advantage streamlines your productivity. Instead of using “this browser for this site” and “that browser for that site,” now you can just use Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge also offers new, modern features that you can’t find in Internet Explorer. Do dozens of tabs slow your computer down? Use Sleeping tabs to free up resources . Are those same tabs impossible to read along the top of your browser? Move them to the side and make them easier to read with Vertical tabs. Wish your Favorites were more than just links? It’s easier to collect and organize information you find across the web with Collections. Do you like using different browsers for work and personal use? Try setting up different profiles within Microsoft Edge and just use it instead.

And those are just the start.

Reason #3 – Better browser security

Roughly 579 password attacks are attempted every second —you need a browser that’s up to this challenge. Microsoft Edge offers the highest-rated protection against both phishing attacks and malware on Windows 10 with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. It also offers Password Monitor, which scans the dark web to identify if your personal credentials have been compromised. And with tie-ins to the Microsoft 365 Security suite, Microsoft Edge is even better for organizations: Microsoft Edge is more secure than Chrome for businesses on Windows 10 .

In today’s evolved security landscape, it’s also important that Microsoft Edge is more agile when responding to security vulnerabilities. While Internet Explorer 11 packaged security updates monthly, Microsoft Edge can issue security patches for immediate vulnerabilities within days, if not hours.

If Internet Explorer has been your go-to for years, Microsoft Edge can now be your trusted web companion for improved compatibility, streamlined productivity and better browser security.

How this impacts you

If you’re a consumer using Internet Explorer at home , we recommend you transition to Microsoft Edge before June 15, 2022, to start enjoying a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience. The good news: you probably already have it on your device. Search for “Microsoft Edge” using the Windows 10 search box or look for the icon (see the top of this article). If you don’t have it, you can easily download it here . We’ve also aimed to make the upgrade to Microsoft Edge simple. Once you’ve opted in to moving to Microsoft Edge, it’s easy to bring over your passwords, favorites and other browsing data from Internet Explorer in a few clicks. And if you run into a site that needs Internet Explorer to open, Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode built-in so you can still access it .

If you’re an organization using Internet Explorer , you may have a surprisingly large set of legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and apps, built up over many years. In fact, we found that enterprises have 1,678 legacy apps on average. 1 By moving to Microsoft Edge, you get everything described above plus you’ll be able to extend the life of your legacy websites and apps well beyond the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application retirement date using IE mode. Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge will be supported through at least 2029 .

To prepare your organization for June 15, 2022, we recommend the following three steps to begin setting up Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode:

• Check out the Internet Explorer mode website for more details. Get a custom cost-benefit analysis of Microsoft Edge and IE mode for your organization, with a Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ estimation tool, and access the Getting Started guide.
• Read the Getting Started guide for helpful check lists, instructional videos and links to no-cost support like FastTrack and App Assure who can help you with deployment as well as website and application compatibility.
• Reuse your Enterprise Mode Site List from Internet Explorer if you already have one. Reusing your Enterprise Mode Site List means you’re already on your way to setting up IE mode. If you don’t have one, create one using this Configure IE mode tool .

Our tools and documentation outline best practices for rolling out Microsoft Edge with IE mode. You can also learn from others who have already made the move—read about how GlaxoSmithKline rolled out Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode in their organization of 130,000 employees globally and have made Microsoft Edge their default browser.

If you’re a web developer working on a modern website or app , we know you’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Internet Explorer has increasingly been difficult to support side-by-side with modern browsers. With this change, enterprises and consumers will be able to limit their use of Internet Explorer to only those legacy sites that absolutely need it. While this is a welcome change that will save you time and money as a web developer, it will take time for users to transition away from Internet Explorer, so we recommend you plan an orderly movement to end Internet Explorer support based on your users’ needs. When you are ready, we can also help ease the transition. Microsoft Edge has built-in support to move your users seamlessly, including retaining history, tabs, passwords, signed-in state and other settings so they can have an uninterrupted experience with your site. Send us a note when you’re ready ( [email protected] ) and we can add your IE site to our list which will enable this transition experience. Learn more about how we can help your IE users switch smoothly .

We can’t thank everyone enough for supporting Internet Explorer over the years. Many people and organizations around the world have depended on IE to support them as they’ve learned, grown and conducted business online. Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode inherits this important responsibility, and we look forward to supporting you online with Microsoft Edge.

1 Based on a commissioned survey of 40 enterprise decision-makers conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft, February 2021. Actual costs may vary based on complexity, location and other factors. The Total Economic Impact™ of Microsoft Edge, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting, May 2021.

How to Enable Internet Explorer Mode in Edge on Windows 10/11

Everything that you need to know

Despite being slow, outdated, and a security risk, you still need Internet Explorer (IE) for older websites and apps that don’t play well with modern browsers. But if you use Microsoft Edge for normal web browsing , you don’t have to keep switching between the two. That’s because the latter comes with an integrated Internet Explorer Mode capable of rendering sites in IE’s Trident MSHTML engine.

However, before you can use Microsoft Edge to load legacy web content, you must activate Internet Explorer Mode. The following instructions will walk you through everything you need to know to set this mode up on a PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11.

How To Activate Internet Explorer Mode in Edge

Internet Explorer Mode comes built into the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge. You can activate it by digging into the browser’s Settings page.

1. Open Edge’s Settings and more menu by selecting the three-dot icon to the top-right of the window. Then, pick the option labeled Settings .

2. Select Default browser on the sidebar.

3. Locate the Internet Explorer compatibility section to the right of the Settings page.

4. Open the pull-down menu next to Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode and select Allow .

5. Select Restart . Microsoft Edge will restart automatically.

Internet Explorer Mode is now active in Microsoft Edge. You can invoke it manually or set up the browser to use it automatically for specific websites and pages.

How To Enable and Disable Internet Explorer Mode in Edge

With Internet Explorer Mode active in Microsoft Edge, you can manually load a web page or app using the Trident MSHTML engine whenever you want.

1. Load the web page or app in Edge.

2. Open the Settings and more menu.

3. Select reload in Internet Explorer mode .

The site will reload in Internet Explorer Mode. You’ll see the familiar Internet Explorer logo to the left of the Microsoft Edge address bar confirming that. Links that you click on will also load in Internet Explorer Mode, as long as they load pages belonging to the same domain.

If you have other tabs with legacy content, you must enable Internet Explorer Mode for them manually.

If you want to fall back to using the Chromium engine, simply re-open the Settings and more menu and select Exit Internet Explorer mode . Or, just leave the tab.

Note: If you have trouble enabling Internet Explorer Mode, you may have to install Internet Explorer or the Internet Explorer Mode module on your PC. Scroll further below for instructions.

How To Set Sites to Load in Internet Explorer Mode Always

If you interact with older websites and apps regularly, you can instruct Microsoft Edge to load them in Internet Explorer Mode by default. You have a couple of ways to do that.

If you’ve manually activated Internet Explorer Mode for a site, just select the Internet Explorer logo on the address bar, turn on the switch next to Open this page in Internet Explorer Mode next time , and select Done .

Alternatively, you can add the web page URLs via Microsoft Edge’s Settings page.

1. Open the Settings and more menu and select Settings .

3. Select the Add button next to Internet Explorer mode pages .

4. Enter the URL of a page you want to load in Internet Explorer Mode by default.

5. Select Add .

6. Repeat steps 3 – 5 for any other pages you might want to add.

How To Add an Internet Explorer Mode Button to Edge

Microsoft Edge lets you add an Internet Explorer Mode button to the browser toolbar. That makes enabling and disabling the functionality easier.

2. Select Appearance on the sidebar.

3. Scroll down to the Customize toolbar section and turn on the switch next to Internet Explorer mode button .

An Internet Explorer Mode button should now appear to the right of the address bar. Select it whenever you want to enter and exit Internet Explorer Mode.

If you want to remove the Internet Explorer Mode button, head back to Settings > Appearance and disable the switch next to Internet Explorer mode .

Can’t Enable Internet Explorer Mode? Here’s What You Must Do

Internet Explorer comes pre-installed in Windows 10. But some PCs require you to activate it before you can start using it. So, for example, if you receive an “Internet Explorer can’t be found” message while enabling Internet Explorer Mode for a web page or app, doing that should help.

The same issue can also occur in Windows 11 . However, Microsoft’s latest operating system doesn’t include Internet Explorer as a separate application. Instead, it comes with an Internet Explorer Mode module that you must add as an optional feature.

How To Add Internet Explorer in Windows 10

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings .

2. Select Apps .

3. Select Optional features .

4. Select Add a feature .

5. Check the box next to Internet Explorer .

6. Select Install .

How To Add the Internet Explorer Mode Module in Windows 11

2. Select Apps > Optional features .

3. Select View features .

4. Check the box next to Internet Explorer mode and select Next .

Internet Explorer Mode: A Two-in-One Experience

Internet Explorer Mode helps you keep your web browsing limited to Microsoft Edge. You should be able to use it, even after Microsoft discontinues Internet Explorer in mid-2022. However, you must refrain from using the functionality for pages that work well in Edge’s default Chromium engine. The trade-off in performance and security is just not worth it.

That said, if you’re in an organizational environment, check out the Internet Explorer Mode Getting Started guide for details on setting up the policies needed to deploy and activate the functionality for internal and external sites.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn't hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum's Full Bio

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