How to Stop Internet Explorer From Opening Edge on Windows 11

Even though Internet Explorer has officially retired, you may still run into situations where old apps, intranet sites, or legacy tools launch Internet Explorer. But on Windows 11, Internet Explorer automatically redirects everything to Microsoft Edge with IE Mode. While Microsoft designed this for compatibility, it can be frustrating when you want to prevent Edge from opening every time something triggers Internet Explorer.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through several ways to stop Internet Explorer from launching Microsoft Edge in Windows 11. Just keep in mind that IE is fully disabled on modern Windows builds, so some methods work only for specific scenarios like older enterprise environments or custom offline tools.

Stop Internet Explorer From Opening Edge

To stop Internet Explorer from opening Edge, you’ll need access to Windows 11 Settings, the Registry Editor, or Microsoft Edge’s policy configuration—depending on which method you choose. Most home users will only need a few simple tweaks, but advanced users and admins can apply registry or group policy changes for complete control over IE-to-Edge redirection.

1. Disable Internet Explorer Redirection in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has a built-in setting that controls whether it opens IE sites automatically.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three-dot menu at the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Navigate to Default browser on the left sidebar.
5. Under Let Microsoft Edge open sites in Internet Explorer mode, select Never from the dropdown menu.
6. Restart Edge to apply the changes.

This prevents Edge from forcing Internet Explorer Mode unless a site specifically requires it.

2. Turn Off IE-to-Edge Redirection in Windows Settings (Optional)

Some users still see a banner that says:
“This website works better in Microsoft Edge.”

To stop this:

1. Open Edge Settings.
2. Go to Privacy, search, and services.
3. Scroll down to Services.
4. Toggle off Internet Explorer compatibility notifications.

This doesn’t fully block redirection, but it reduces auto-launch behaviors.

3. Remove “Open in Microsoft Edge” From Internet Explorer (Older Systems Only)

If you’re using an older Windows 11 build where IE still opens in limited form:

1. Press Windows + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter to open Internet Options.
2. Go to the Advanced tab.
3. Scroll down and uncheck:
   Enable third-party browser extensions.
4. Click Apply → OK.

This reduces automatic extension-based redirection to Edge.

4. Disable Internet Explorer Redirection Using the Registry (Advanced Users)

If Edge continues to take over IE links, you can force-disable redirection using the Registry.

Important: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. We recommend backing up your registry before making changes.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge If the Edge folder doesn’t exist, create it.
3. Right-click the right panel → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it: RedirectSitesFromInternetExplorerRedirectMode
5. Double-click it and set Value data to 0.
6. Restart your PC.

This enforces a policy that blocks automatic redirection to Edge.

5. Use Group Policy to Block IE Redirect (Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise)

If you’re on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, Group Policy gives you full control.

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Go to:
   Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Microsoft Edge
3. Look for the policy named:
   “Redirect incompatible sites from Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge”
4. Set the policy to Disabled.
5. Click Apply → OK.
6. Restart your computer.

This is the most reliable enterprise-grade method for stopping IE-to-Edge redirection.

6. Re-Enable Internet Explorer Fully (If Needed)

Internet Explorer is disabled by default on Windows 11, but if you’re testing compatibility or building legacy systems, you can try enabling it via Optional Features.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click Programs → Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Look for Internet Explorer 11.
4. If available, check the box and click OK.
5. Restart your system.

Note that most modern Windows 11 builds no longer include this option, but some LTSC or enterprise environments still support it.

Wrapping Up

Internet Explorer is officially retired, and Microsoft encourages everyone to use Edge with IE Mode for legacy sites. But if you prefer stopping Windows 11 from automatically launching Edge every time something triggers Internet Explorer, you can disable redirection using Edge settings, Registry tweaks, or Group Policy. With the right configuration, you can regain full control over how IE-related content opens on your PC.