Key Highlights
- Microsoft announced the retirement of Internet Explorer
- Internet Explorer will shut down on June 15 after 27 years of service
- Microsoft Edge will replace Internet Explorer
It’s time to bid adieu to Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s oldest browser. After 27 years of service, the IE is all set to be retired on June 15, 2022. The search browser was released in 1995 as a Windows 95 add-on. However, it was later included in the package for free.
The Internet Explorer, known as the “OG” search browser, experienced a big boost in popularity in 2003 before falling out of favor when new browsers entered the market. However, the company hasn’t released any substantial updates or new versions of Internet Explorer since 2016. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 11 was released in 2013 and it was the company’s last and final version.
According to Microsoft, widespread support for the aging search engine will be discontinued on June 15, 2022. The tech giant declared the end of Internet Explorer by claiming that Microsoft Edge is the future of the search engine on Windows 10.
Microsoft Edge Will Replace Internet Explorer
Microsoft Edge, a Chromium-based browser, will take the place of Internet Explorer. The company has been urging people to switch to the Edge browser since it is “faster, more secure, and more modern” than Internet Explorer.
Internet Explorer 11 desktop app will be affected by the retirement of Internet Explorer on some versions of Windows 10. Additionally, it will not be available on Windows 11. However, after June 15, 2022, Internet Explorer will continue to work on Windows 7 ESU, Windows 8.1, and all versions of Windows 10 LTSC client, IoT, and Server.
The Internet Explorer icon will remain on the Start Menu but clicking on any of them will take you to Microsoft Edge which is designed to be more user-friendly.
Why Microsoft Is Ending Internet Explorer?
One of the causes is that the user base of Internet Explorer is declining. Despite reaching a peak of 95% usage in 2003, the browser was unable to sustain its dominance as users dropped rapidly.
Another reason is the fierce rivalry in the market from competing browsers. Many new browsers entered the market, promising quicker internet speeds, better user interfaces, and smoother performance.
