How to use Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge

Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
Internet Explorer

In 2022, Microsoft officially discontinued Internet Explorer. However, even though IE is no longer available, users can still utilize Microsoft Edge to view pages in "Internet Explorer mode." This feature is essentially an instanced version of Internet Explorer and was added to maintain compatibility with legacy browser-based accessibility tools. It can also test older websites built with IE in mind.

To learn how to enable and use Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge, follow the steps below.

Tip

If you're running an older version of Windows 10, you may still be able to open Internet Explorer through Edge. See: How to open Internet Explorer in Windows 10.

How to enable Internet Explorer mode

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. In the top-right corner of the screen, click the More icon in Microsoft Edge. icon.
  3. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Selector for Settings menu in Microsoft Edge.

  1. Select Default browser from the menu on the left side of the screen.

Selector that opens default browser settings in Edge.

  1. In the Internet Explorer compatibility section, click the drop-down menu to the right of Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode).

Enabling IE mode in Edge.

  1. Select Allow from the list, and then click the Restart button in Edge. button.

Drop-down menu values related to loading a page in IE mode through the Edge browser.

How to view a page in Internet Explorer mode

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser and navigate to the page you want to view in IE mode.
  2. In the top-right corner of the screen, click the More icon in Microsoft Edge. icon.
  3. Near the bottom of the drop-down menu, select Reload in Internet Explorer mode.

Reload in Internet Explorer mode selector in Edge.

Note

Some earlier versions of Microsoft Edge require you to select More tools and then Reload in Internet Explorer mode.

  1. Once done, click the More icon in Microsoft Edge. icon in the upper-right corner again and select Exit Internet Explorer mode to return to Edge standard mode.

Exit Internet Explorer mode in Edge.

Always open a specific web page in Internet Explorer mode

If there's a web page specific to Internet Explorer you visit frequently, set it to always open in IE mode.

In step 3 above, after reloading the web page in Internet Explorer mode, a pop-up window appears below the address bar. In that pop-up window, click the toggle next to Open this page in Internet Explorer mode next time to the On Microsoft Edge toggle in the On position. position.

Microsoft Edge toggle to always open web page in Internet Explorer mode.

Tip

If the pop-up window does not appear, click the Internet Explorer mode Internet Explorer mode icon in Edge browser. icon to the left of the web page to view it.

Note

If a web page is set to always open in Internet Explorer mode, it will do so until that setting is disabled. Visit the page in Microsoft Edge, and in the Internet Explorer mode pop-up window, click the toggle next to Open this page in Internet Explorer mode next time to the Off Microsoft Edge toggle in the On position. position.