Microsoft launched a “gift” on Valentine’s Day today: permanently disabling the Internet Explorer 11 desktop browser. Microsoft Edge update will disable the Internet Explorer 11 desktop browser, designed to provide a better user experience and help organizations transition Internet Explorer 11 users to Microsoft Edge,” Microsoft said.
Unsupported Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) desktop applications are scheduled to be permanently disabled on certain versions of Windows 10 devices on February 14, 2023 via a Microsoft Edge update (rather than the previously communicated Windows update).
Microsoft plans to redirect all remaining devices that have not yet been redirected from IE11 to Microsoft Edge by releasing a Microsoft Edge update starting February 14, 2023.
The change to disable IE with Microsoft Edge updates is intended to provide a better user experience and help organizations convert their last remaining IE11 users to Microsoft Edge. as a reminder, IE11 has been unsupported since June 15, 2022.
Organizations that have transitioned from IE11 to Microsoft Edge with IE mode will not be affected when the IE11 desktop application is scheduled to be permanently disabled on February 14, 2023.
Note: If you want to remove the IE visual object reference on the taskbar or Start menu, you will need to use the Disable IE policy by February 14, 2023. If the organization still relies on IE11, immediate steps must be taken to complete the conversion by February 14, 2023, or risk massive business disruption if users are unable to access applications that rely on IE11.
IE11 visual references (such as the IE11 icon on the Start menu and taskbar) will be removed in the June 2023 Windows Monthly Security Update (“B” version) scheduled for release on June 13, 2023.
They will also be removed in the non-security preview of certain Windows 10 versions scheduled for May 23, 2023.
