Internet Explorer 11 is retired, and on many Windows 10 systems the desktop application has been permanently disabled. If an old business website requires Internet Explorer technology, Microsoft’s supported approach is to use Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge, not to find a way to reopen the retired IE browser.
Open a legacy site with IE mode
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Go to the legacy website using normal Edge first.
- If your organization manages IE mode, make sure the site is included in its approved Enterprise Mode Site List or follow the administrator’s instructions.
- Use the available Reload in Internet Explorer mode or organization-provided IE-mode control when appropriate.
- After completing the legacy task, continue normal web browsing in Edge rather than leaving unrelated sites in IE mode.
If you cannot find IE mode
Edge policies and interface options change over time, and organizations can control IE mode centrally. On a managed PC, contact IT rather than changing policies or Registry values copied from an old tutorial. For an unmanaged PC, consult Microsoft’s current Edge IE-mode documentation.
Do not reinstall Internet Explorer from a download site
The retired desktop browser is not something you should restore with a third-party installer. Unofficial executables can be outdated, modified, or malicious. IE mode exists specifically to support necessary legacy web applications while Edge remains the browser.
Plan to retire the legacy dependency
IE mode is a compatibility bridge. If you own or administer the site that requires it, identify the obsolete web technology and plan an update. Windows 10 itself reached end of standard support in October 2025, making modernization of the host PC important as well.
Keep the compatibility scope narrow
IE mode can preserve access to an old intranet application while it is being replaced. Limit the mode to the approved site rather than treating it as a way to browse the wider web with Internet Explorer behavior.
“Run Internet Explorer” and “open Internet Explorer” now mean legacy compatibility
The standalone Internet Explorer 11 desktop application is retired and disabled on supported Microsoft configurations. Do not try to restore it with an archived executable. For a legacy site that genuinely requires IE technology, use Microsoft Edge’s maintained Internet Explorer mode when the organization’s configuration permits it.
Confirm the dependency before enabling IE mode
Test whether the site works in normal Edge first. If IE mode is necessary, limit it to the specific legacy site and keep ordinary browsing in the modern browser. Organizations with many legacy sites should manage the Enterprise Mode Site List centrally rather than asking users to switch modes manually.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.