Microsoft has announced that it will completely phase out the Internet Explorer browser, which it began phasing out a few months ago, next February 14, 2023 and that it will do so via a Microsoft Edge update.

The tech company announced in May 2020 that it would stop supporting Internet Explorer 11 starting June 15, 2022. From then on, it can only be used edge Microsoft as the leading web browser developed by Microsoft.

However, as teased in a recent announcement, Microsoft will permanently disable the desktop web browser on some Windows 10 systems that still support it so far.

This change will happen on February 14, 2023 and it will be it will be done via a future Microsoft Edge update and not with a Windows update as previously reported, as can be seen in this update.

Microsoft indicated that this change was made with the goal of “providing a better user experience and helping organizations transition the last remaining IE11 users to Microsoft Edge,” according to the manufacturer.

Organizations that have already made this transition from Explorer to Edge with Explorer mode, will not change from February 14th. Those who want to remove Explorer’s visual cues in Edge, like the taskbar or start menu, will need to disable it before February 14th.

However, these visuals will be removed from Edge on June 13, 2023 with the June 2023 Windows Monthly Security Update.

Finally, Microsoft warned enterprises that if they become dependent on any of the services available in IE11, they must take steps to complete the transition to Edge before that date. Otherwise, your employees or users will lose access to available applications dependent on Internet Explorer 11.

The rise and fall of Internet Explorer

The web browser that powered the Windows operating system was one of the oldest and best known in the world. It’s even an integral part of the history of the internet; although more modern browsers have emerged over time, such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefoxsome users and companies use it all over the world.

Internet Explorer was first released in 1995 by Microsoft and quickly became the most widely used browser due to its wide availability on Windows operating systems.

Over the years, this browser has undergone many updates and improvements and has been integrated into various versions of Windows, including Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Precisely thanks to its integration with the operating system, it has allowed you to take full advantage of all its features and tools.

It was also known for its ability to support a wide variety of web applications and plug-ins, which allowed it to be used for a wide range of purposes.

However, with the emergence of new browsers like Chrome and Firefox, Internet Explorer has started to lose popularity due to its lack of speed and performance. Additionally, lack of support for modern web standards and vulnerability to viruses and security attacks have also contributed to its decline in popularity.

In 2015, Microsoft released Microsoft Edge, a new web browser based on Chromium, the same rendering engine used by Google Chrome. Although Internet Explorer is still available to some users, Microsoft Edge has replaced Internet Explorer as the default web browser in Windows 10 and has gained popularity due to its increased speed and performance.

While Internet Explorer is no longer the dominant web browser it once was, it is still an important part of the history of the Internet and will continue to be used by some users and businesses around the world.

With information from La Vanguardia.