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Internet Explorer

ApplicationMicrosoft Corporation

Dem still dey call am ie, ie11, iexplore

Microsoft CorporationBrowsers

Di retired Windows browser. Current Windows dey open leftover IE sites inside Microsoft Edge IE mode.

Wetin you need know

Internet Explorer don retire. Current Windows dey use Edge IE mode.

Di IE11 desktop app don stop to get support. Microsoft Edge na di current Windows browser. iexplore.exe no be msedge.exe. No dey find standalone IE installer.

Wetin e be?
Web browser
Still current?
Retired or replaced
Official download?
Use di vendor link inside dis article
Feex tok say
If person tell you make you download Internet Explorer, I go open Edge instead. IE mode na di leftover way for compatibility. Random iexplore setup na nonsense.

Wetin be Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer na Microsoft Trident browser before. Di desktop app don retire. Microsoft Edge fit still load specific sites inside IE mode with di old engine.

If you never use am before

If 2008 guide tell you say make you open Internet Explorer, dat desktop app don retire. Current Windows dey use Microsoft Edge. Old intranet sites dey open inside Edge IE mode, no be standalone IE window wey you download. Leftover iexplore.exe files no be Edge. No install IE setup from random file download site.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Old intranet sites

Old ActiveX or Trident-only pages. Today dem belong inside Edge IE mode, no be downloaded IE11.

Nothing new for di public web

Modern sites dey expect Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. IE na di wrong daily browser.

Admin compatibility lists

IT fit lock sites to IE mode. Dat one na Edge policy, no be second browser install.

Na who e dey for?

  • People wey workplace site still tie down to Trident
  • Anybody wey still dey see iexplore.exe and think say na di daily browser
  • Users wey dey follow guide wey dem write before Edge show face

Current status

Don retire as daily desktop browser. Microsoft dey direct people go Edge IE mode for leftover Trident sites.

How old e be?

Internet Explorer follow Windows 95 come out for 1995. IE11 na di last major version. Support for IE11 desktop app end on June 15, 2022 and dem disable am for many Windows 10 PCs. Edge IE mode still remain di supported compatibility way reach at least 2029.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

IE11 desktop (retired)
Edge IE mode

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to di vendor
RAM E reach for Windows plus dis app. Heavy projects go want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
iexplore.exe Main Windows executable

Startup components

No put iexplore.exe inside Startup. Current Windows suppose start Edge if old shortcut still trigger.

File locations

Common Internet Explorer locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

File formats

HTMLMHT

Common wahala dem

Shortcuts still dey show Internet Explorer

Many of dem dey redirect to Edge now. Na wetin dem expect after di desktop app retire.

People dey install fake IE11 packages

Microsoft no get any current IE download. Those setup files na scam or malware.

How to get unstuck

Open di site inside Edge IE mode

Microsoft Learn document IE mode. Dat na di supported path, no be IE11 exe from internet.

No enable di retired desktop app again as daily browser

Microsoft publish guidance on how to disable and retire am. Edge na di current product.

Confirm iexplore.exe versus msedge.exe

Edge na msedge.exe. Leftover IE shortcut no be proof say you still get supported IE desktop app.

Alternatives

Microsoft Edge with IE mode for leftover intranet sites. Chrome or Firefox for daily browsing. No new IE wey get support.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download learn.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/developer/browsers/installation/disable-internet-explorer-windows Official installer or vendor page
Help learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/web-platform/ie-mode Vendor support
Official site learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/web-platform/ie-mode Start here, no be random exe host

Related hardware

IE mode still need supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC wey dey run current Edge.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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