Microsoft shuts Internet Explorer on Wednesday, 27 years after the company first introduced the browser.
Those attempting to open the iconic blue and white “e” application are now sent to Microsoft Edge, the company’s more recent browser. The company first announced in May that the web browser for certain versions of Windows 10 would be retired on June 15, 2022.
Microsoft introduced Edge in 2015 and it has gradually phased out Internet Explorer.
“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,” the company released in a statement.
For years, IE was the default browser on Windows PCs before competitors like Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome snatched users away.
“Users will still see the Internet Explorer icon on their devices (such as on the taskbar or in the Start menu), but if they click to open Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge will open instead, giving them quick access to IE mode,” said Sean Lyndersay, Microsoft Edge Enterprise General Manager.
As part of a future Windows Update, Internet Explorer will be permanently disabled, and the IE icons on their devices will be gone.
Users’ data from IE such as favorite, passwords, and settings, will be imported as part of the redirection process, he said, in order to “making the transition to Microsoft Edge both familiar and simple.” After that, users can erase or manage their data in Microsoft Edge by going to the Settings menu.
The death of the browser is neither surprising nor particularly problematic for the vast majority of internet users in 2022. Good memories aren’t enough to compensate for poor performance and safety. They do, however, reflect Internet Explorer’s cultural significance for those who grew up with the internet, witnessing it evolve.
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