Microsoft has officially shut down Internet Explorer after 27 years of service. As of June 15, 2022, the tech giant will no longer support the desktop application for most versions of Windows 10. This move marks the final chapter for a browser that once connected millions of people to the World Wide Web.
Users who try to open the legacy browser will now be redirected to Microsoft Edge. The company is urging everyone to make the switch immediately to ensure their online safety and improve their browsing experience. The retirement affects millions of legacy websites that still rely on the older technology.
The Official End of Support for Internet Explorer
The decision to retire the browser was not sudden. Microsoft had been warning users for over a year that the end was near. The official date of June 15, 2022, serves as the deadline where support ceases for the desktop application on specific versions of Windows 10. This means no more security updates and no more technical support.
For many years, maintaining the old browser became a burden for the company. The web has evolved significantly since 1995, and the old infrastructure could not keep up with modern demands. Microsoft made the strategic choice to focus all its efforts on Microsoft Edge, which is faster and more secure.
According to the official announcement by Microsoft, the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. This transition aims to provide a unified browsing experience without the security holes that plagued the older software.
“Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications.”
— Sean Lyndersay, General Manager, Microsoft Edge Enterprise
The company has promised a smooth transition for users. If you have the old icon on your desktop, clicking it will eventually launch the new browser automatically. This redirection ensures that users do not get stuck on an unsafe platform.
From Market Dominance to a Slow Decline
Internet Explorer was not always the underdog. Launched on August 16, 1995, it quickly became the most popular way to access the internet. By 2003, it controlled about 95% of the browser market. It was the default gateway to the digital world for almost everyone with a computer.
However, the landscape of the internet began to change rapidly. Competitors like Mozilla Firefox and later Google Chrome entered the scene with better speed and features. Users started to notice that pages loaded faster on these new platforms. Slowly, the dominance of Microsoft began to fade.
By the time the retirement was announced, only a tiny fraction of people were still using it as their main browser. Recent data suggests that its market share had dropped to around 0.64% globally, a stark contrast to its glory days. The following table illustrates the dramatic shift in browser popularity over the last decade.
| Year | Internet Explorer Market Share | Key Competitor (Chrome) |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | ~65% | ~3% |
| 2015 | ~15% | ~50% |
| 2022 | < 1% | ~65% |
Despite the low usage numbers, the browser remained crucial for specific sectors. Government bodies, banks, and older corporate systems often built their internal tools specifically for Internet Explorer. This is why it survived for so long despite being outdated for general web surfing.
Why Microsoft Edge is the Solution
The replacement, Microsoft Edge, is built on the Chromium engine. This is the same underlying technology that powers Google Chrome. It allows the browser to run modern websites smoothly and quickly. It also supports all the latest extensions and tools that users love.
One of the biggest features of Edge is “IE Mode.” This feature was designed specifically for businesses and users who still need to access old websites. It allows Edge to open a tab that behaves exactly like the old Internet Explorer. This solves the compatibility issue without needing the old app.
- Better Security: Edge offers protection against phishing and malware that the old browser could not handle.
- Cross-Platform: It works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android seamlessly.
- Legacy Support: Built-in tools allow older bank and government sites to function correctly.
Microsoft has stated that IE Mode will be supported through at least 2029. This gives companies plenty of time to update their systems. It bridges the gap between the past and the future of the web.
For users concerned about losing their data, the transition is simple. When you open Edge for the first time, it usually asks to import your passwords, favorites, and history from Internet Explorer. This makes the move painless for less tech-savvy individuals.
Social Media Reacts to the Shutdown
The news of the shutdown sparked a wave of nostalgia across social media platforms. While many users complained about the browser’s speed in recent years, it holds a special place in history. For countless people, the blue “e” icon was their very first introduction to the internet.
On Twitter and Facebook, users shared memes and memories. A common joke was that Internet Explorer was the best tool for downloading other browsers. Others remembered the days of dial-up internet and the clunky design of early websites.
In South Korea, a software engineer went a step further to commemorate the event. He spent a month designing and ordering a real gravestone for the browser. The marker, placed on the roof of a café in Gyeongju, features the browser’s logo and a humorous epitaph.
According to a report by Reuters, the gravestone’s inscription reads: “He was a good tool to download other browsers.” This image went viral globally, perfectly capturing the love-hate relationship users had with the software.
These reactions show that while the technology was outdated, its cultural impact was massive. It was a king of the internet era that has now passed the torch to a new generation of technology.
It is genuinely the end of an era. We all have memories of waiting for that blue E to load our favorite pages. Even though it was slow, it started the digital revolution for many of us. Goodbye, Internet Explorer. You will be missed, but we are ready for something faster.
Share this news with your friends! Use hashtags #InternetExplorer #RIPInternetExplorer #TechNews #MicrosoftEdge. Don’t forget to comment below with your first memory of using the internet!
