I long ago switched to Microsoft Edge, but I hear that Microsoft has officially ended Internet Explorer and said that it’s no longer supported in Windows 10. How can I then remove it from my PC entirely to ensure no one else ever launches the ancient program and messed up my computer?
There are few applications that have proven more of a bane to designers and developers over the years than Internet Explorer. Originally one of the very first Web browsers (it was introduced in August 1995), it was never quite in sync with its features when compared to other choices like Opera, NCSA Mosaic, and especially Netscape Navigator. This dragged on for years, even as more and more Web sites said “Best viewed with” and explicitly omitted Internet Explorer from the list. After years of abuse, Microsoft’s development team finally had the bright idea of building a new Web browser – Microsoft Edge – atop Chromium, the open-source browser that also powers Google Chrome. Microsoft Edge was first introduced in 2015, if you’re keeping track!
Now Microsoft says on its Web site that “Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will go out of support and be retired on June 15, 2022”. Still a year from the date of me writing this article, but in Internet terms, that’s not such a long time after all. Particularly when you consider that Internet Explorer has been an option for Web browsing on a PC for twenty-seven years!
Still, it’s a good idea to eradicate Internet Explorer from your PC to ensure that it’s never launched and potentially putting your system at risk!
HOW TO DELETE INTERNET EXPLORER 11
And so, decades after its launch, the time has come to axe MSIE from your computer. Ah, the memories. The Web sites…
Okay, enough of that. Let’s get to it! You can confirm it’s still on your PC by searching for “Internet Explorer”:
Notice that a search for IE returned Microsoft Edge as the #1 result. If you don’t yet have Edge on your computer, definitely grab a copy and install it soonest.
You can, of course, launch Internet Explorer one last time for the memories, but it won’t take more than a few seconds to remember why you’re not using it as your primary browser anymore!
Okay, time to bid IE sayonara.
Surprisingly, you can’t remove it with the Add or Delete Programs utility. Instead, you’ll need to use the “Optional Features” system settings.
Easily done. Search for “optional features” and you’ll get the matching System Setting:
Choose “Manage Optional Features” to proceed and it’ll offer up this window:
Click on “Internet Explorer 11” and it’ll add a description and offer up that “Uninstall” button as shown.
Deep breath. Click on “Uninstall”.
The process is surprisingly quick…
A quick restart, easily done from the Windows icon on the lower left:
Once it’s restarted you can confirm that you have accomplished your removal task by again searching for “Internet Explorer”:
Congratulations. Your computer is “cured”!
Pro Tip: I’ve been writing about Windows 10 for quite some time and earlier versions of Windows before that. While you’re visiting, why not check out my Windows 10 & PC help area? Thanks!
Dave, your instructions worked great! But later found my Quickbooks requires IE so my QB is now MIA. exe files for IE aren’t reinstalling it, and having a time finding a way to download a copy to my w10 Pro. System Restore won’t work, but I’ve got a full image backed up from May 1, plus the incrementals since then.
Ugh. I would write a really strong letter to Quickbooks reminding them that Internet Explorer is obsolete and that the company *must* update everyone. Good luck!
I would like to print a copy of your instructions for deleting ie11 but cannot find a print button anyplace in the article. Am I just missing it or how would I print??
Thanks for the help
I don’t have a specific print button; just use the one in your Web browser, Bob! Nice last name too.
Follow instructions under Optional Features. After removal Edge shortcuts would not open. Error messages every time. Reinstalled Edge with no positive results. Bit the bullet and reinstalled Windows 10 from the cloud.
For reasons that are not clear, some Windows configurations let you remove Internet Explorer, but then are really messed up. Glad you found a solution, and as I say in my article, please ensure you have a solid, reliable backup if you choose to proceed with the removal.
Since uninstalling IE as per these instructions, clicking hypelinks in Outlook email messages causes a popup to display – “the operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer”.
The default browser in settings has been set to MS Edge for quite a long time prior and hyperlinks had been working successfully.
Solutions found via internet searches all seem to be somewhat out of date and not helpful.
Ken, I would launch Microsoft Edge and say “yes” if it asks whether it should be the default Web browser. Then go into System Settings and again ensure that Edge is chosen as the default program for Web links. Restart your system and see if that fixes things. If not, go into the Outlook settings and see if there’s a spot there to specify default Web browser too.
Sad to say I’ve done all that. MS Edge is set as the default browser. I can’t find a default Web browser setting in Outlook settings. There is a button for Default Programs under the General tab, but clicking on that one just brings up a message to go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. which is where I’ve already set the default browser to Edge.
I can work around the issue by copying and pasting link addresses into Edge, but it would obviously be nicer to have the links working.
A bit more info: I tested MS Word and Excel – hyperlinks in these apps don’t work either. So it seems to be a general issue with MS apps, not just Outlook. Hyperlinks from non-MS apps are not affected.
Tried to reinstall IE to see if that would fix the problem. Was unsuccessful. Downloaded & ran the IE11 .exe but it didn’t work.
Is it possible to remove IE from a PC dating from 2008 that is currently running Windows 7?
Ah, you’re on your own with Win7, but if you have a second browser, I think you should be okay. Really, though, it’s past time to upgrade, Alan…
Finally,, the rock around my neck has about left the keyboard and now is a good foot rest and props up my missing roller wheel for my printer table!
Thank you for the good instructions that I can pass down to my younger Grandchildren and also store in my dictionary of self help instruction s that i have been creating over oh so many years!