Microsoft officially retired Internet Explorer (IE) in 2022, replacing it with Microsoft Edge as the default browser for Windows 11. However, some older websites and enterprise apps still rely on Internet Explorer-specific technologies. To support these legacy sites, Microsoft introduced Internet Explorer Mode (IE Mode) inside Edge.
IE Mode allows you to open older, Internet Explorer-based websites directly within Edge — without needing to install or launch the old browser separately. This feature is especially useful for business networks, intranet sites, or government portals that depend on IE-only functionalities like ActiveX controls.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to enable or disable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11, step by step.
1. Open Microsoft Edge Settings
- Launch Microsoft Edge on your Windows 11 PC.
- Click the three dots (⋯) in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- From the dropdown menu, select Settings.
You’ll now be taken to the main Settings page where all browser preferences are managed.
2. Navigate to the Default Browser Section
Once you’re in Settings:
- In the left sidebar, click Default browser.
- On the right-hand side, you’ll see a section labeled Internet Explorer compatibility.
- This section contains options for configuring IE Mode.
3. Enable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge
If you want to enable IE Mode to load older websites that require it, follow these steps:
- Under Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge, select Incompatible sites only (Recommended) or Always from the dropdown menu.
- Next, find the option Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode.
- Choose Allow from the dropdown menu.
- Click the Restart button that appears to restart Microsoft Edge.
After restarting, you’ll be able to open pages in Internet Explorer Mode.
4. Use Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge
Once IE Mode is enabled, here’s how to use it:
- Open any website that requires Internet Explorer compatibility.
- Click the three dots (⋯) menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose Reload in Internet Explorer mode.
- Edge will refresh the page and display an IE Mode indicator on the left side of the address bar.
If you frequently visit this site, you can make Edge automatically load it in IE Mode:
- Click the IE Mode icon in the address bar.
- Toggle on Open this page in Internet Explorer mode next time.
This site will now automatically open in IE Mode for the next 30 days.
5. Disable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge
If you no longer need IE Mode, you can disable it just as easily:
- Open Edge Settings → Default browser.
- Under Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode, select Don’t allow.
- Under Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge, choose Never.
- Click Restart to apply the changes.
IE Mode will now be disabled, and all sites will open using the regular Edge rendering engine.
6. (Optional) Enable IE Mode via Group Policy (For IT Admins)
If you’re managing multiple PCs in a work environment, you can enable or disable IE Mode using the Group Policy Editor.
- Press Windows + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter. - Navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge - Double-click Configure Internet Explorer integration.
- Set it to Enabled, then choose one of the following options:
- Internet Explorer mode – Opens all designated sites in IE Mode.
- Internet Explorer 11 – Opens sites using the legacy IE11 engine.
- Click Apply → OK, and restart Edge.
This is particularly useful for system administrators maintaining internal or enterprise web apps.
7. Troubleshooting IE Mode Issues
If IE Mode doesn’t appear or doesn’t work as expected:
- Ensure your version of Microsoft Edge is up to date.
- Go to Settings → About Microsoft Edge to check for updates.
- Restart your PC after changing IE Mode settings.
- If you’re using Group Policy, verify that policies are correctly applied using the gpresult command in Command Prompt.
- Clear Edge’s cache and cookies if a page isn’t rendering properly.
Wrapping Up
Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge is a great bridge for users who still rely on older, IE-specific sites. By enabling IE Mode, you can seamlessly access those legacy web apps without needing a separate browser.
However, for better security and performance, it’s recommended to disable IE Mode once you no longer need it. Microsoft continues to enhance Edge’s compatibility, so most modern websites work perfectly without IE Mode.
With these steps, you can easily enable or disable Internet Explorer Mode in Edge on Windows 11 — whether for testing, business, or legacy support.
