Users of Internet Explorer will have to look for alternatives as Microsoft has announced an update for today, 14th February 2023, to deactivate its old browser software once and for all. The update will block access to the browser for all Windows PCs, forcing all its users to move either to Edge or to other alternatives.
For many, the end of Internet Explorer usage marks the end of a key period in browser history. However, this development has been in the works for months. Internet Explorer 11 was last updated more than six months ago.
The US Tech giant has warned organizationsOpens a new window still working on IE to transition: “If your organization still has dependencies on IE11, you must take steps now to complete your transition before February 14, 2023, or risk business disruption at scale when users lose access to IE11-dependent applications. Organizations that have already transitioned from IE11 to Microsoft Edge with IE mode will not be impacted when the IE11 desktop application is permanently disabled on this date.”
See More: The 8 Best Internet Browsers in 2023
Internet Explorer Application to Launch Edge
With the transition, the company aims to improve user experience by transitioning all remaining users of Internet Explorers to the newer Edge browser. While Internet Explorer application icons will still be available for users in the coming months, clicking on them will launch Microsoft Edge instead. Users will not be able to change this.
The change is likely to result in some confusion for users despite it being aimed at making the transition easy. It is critical for users to save vital data, including bookmarks and passwords, to minimize disruptions to operations following the update.
Internet Explorer was one of the very first internet browsers available worldwide in 1995 and had, for a time, become the most widely used tool for web access. However, comparatively poor performance to competitive browsers, lack of themes, and default installation in Windows systems were some aspects that drew criticism from users.
Microsoft’s Edge, on the other hand, is the company’s latest browser offering, with similar features and architecture as Google’s Chrome. However, IE users may also switch to other competitor options, including Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Tor, Brave, etc.
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Assistant Editor - Tech, SWZD
Anuj Mudaliar is a content development professional with a keen interest in emerging technologies, particularly advances in AI. As a tech editor for Spiceworks, Anuj covers many topics, including cloud, cybersecurity, emerging tech innovation, AI, and hardware. When not at work, he spends his time outdoors - trekking, camping, and stargazing. He is also interested in cooking and experiencing cuisine from around the world.
