Google Search Got New Interface in IE11 on Windows 8.1, Try NOW

If you are using recently released Windows 8.1 RTM in your computer, here is a great chance for you to enjoy a new exclusive interface of Google Search which can be tested in Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) web browser only.

The default and built-in web browser of Windows 8.1 operating system i.e. Internet Explorer 11 shows a special interface of Google Search page which can’t be accessed using any other web browser.

Confused? OK. Here is the story! Recently we shared on our social network pages that IE11 on Windows 8.1 breaks Google Search page interface. When you open google.com and search for something, the search result page opens broken as shown in following screenshot:

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Google_Search_Broken_IE.png

Actually it happens because Internet Explorer tries to open Google Search page using compatibility mode.

To fix this issue, you just need to disable Internet Explorer’s built-in compatibility list and everything will work fine.

Open Internet Explorer and click on “Tools -> Compatibility View settings” option.

Open_IE_Compatibility_View_Settings.png

It’ll open a new window. Now uncheck “Use Microsoft compatibility lists” option and click on Close button.

Disable_IE_Compatibility_Lists.png

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That’s it. It’ll disable the built-in compatibility list of Internet Explorer and Google Search will work fine in IE11.

If you were facing similar layout problems with any other website, this method will fix that issue too.

Microsoft will release a fix for this problem soon. Once the fix is released, you can re-enable compatibility lists option in IE11.

PS: If you don’t want to disable compatibility lists option, you can edit the compatibility list file in Notepad and remove Google.com entries from the file. Just open Notepad and open following file:

File:\\%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml

Thanks to our friend and longtime AskVG reader “Ramesh Kumar” for sharing this tip…

Published in: Internet Explorer, Mobiles and Internet, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. I faced that exact problem. I’m so glad I figured out this solution. It took me a while to do it.

  2. I stopped using Internet Explorer in Windows 8.1 when it several times for unknown reasons lost my all opened tabs e_e. I didn’t plan to use Microsoft’s browser anyway. I’m always checking new versions of IE.

  3. Even I had the same problem , when I used 8.1 Preview , but I used to open F12 dev tools and set user agent string to Internet Explorer 10 , google then worked fine for me…..

    And VG , you said that removing all google.com entries from
    “File:\\%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml”,
    would make google working back once again…..But it didn’t work for me , I had to disable Compatibility View…

  4. Hi,

    I tried to open “https ://www.google.com/” instead of “www .google.com” and then search. It works fine without changing compatibility view settings 🙂

  5. The firm I work for constantly have to get our customers to untick this option for their BTL online application system. The issue is firms have to send a request to Microsoft to be added to their list which most small firms don’t know. This is why some users will find most company websites will work ok and others will come accross odd glitches or that screen shot attached of the Google returned result.

  6. If I enable compatibility view, it simply removes the new features and instead I get the black toolbar I used to see back in the time I was using xp (I used it since beginning 2007 to sometime 2013 — quite a lot!)
    This old layout is not that sleek, but for some it might be pleasant. Btw I’m using IE11 and that broken interface doesn’t happen.

  7. i had problem in opening internetexplorer. it is displaying not ressponding , tryed all option diplayed in web, can help this ….. win 8.1 pro

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