Microsoft to Retire Internet Explorer and Legacy Microsoft Edge Web Browsers Soon

When Microsoft released Windows 10 operating system to public, it shipped with a brand new web browser called “Microsoft Edge“. It was an UWP-based (store or modern) browser app which was developed to replace classic Internet Explorer (IE11) browser which used to come with all Windows versions.

Microsoft made new Microsoft Edge browser default in Windows 10 and also moved Internet Explorer shortcut in Start Menu from main programs list to Accessories which was very hard to notice and find. Microsoft’s intention was to encourage users to use Microsoft Edge browser instead of the old Internet Explorer browser.

Microsoft kept continue updating Microsoft Edge browser in all Windows 10 feature updates. Microsoft added new features and functionality to Microsoft Edge to make it a perfect browser which could be used as a primary browser.

Unfortunately, Microsoft Edge browser didn’t get much attention from Windows 10 users. So Microsoft decided to replace this UWP-based version of Microsoft Edge with a new Chromium-based version.

The new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge was built using popular Chromium project which also powers the other popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi. New Microsoft Edge browser was also released for previous Windows versions such as Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 along with Windows 10.

Now the old UWP-based Microsoft Edge which came bundled with Windows 10, is known as Legacy Microsoft Edge. Microsoft already started replacing legacy Microsoft Edge with new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge via Windows Update.

In fact newer/future Windows 10 versions i.e. feature updates already come with new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge preinstalled instead of the legacy Microsoft Edge.

Things are clear! Microsoft wants to discontinue both Internet Explorer and legacy Microsoft Edge browsers as soon as possible and the time has come (sort of).

Microsoft has made following announcements:

• Beginning November 30, 2020, the Microsoft Teams web app will no longer support IE11.
• Beginning August 17, 2021, the remaining Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer support IE11.
• After March 9, 2021, the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop app will not receive new security updates.

It means after the above mentioned dates, users will have a degraded experience or will be unable to connect to Microsoft 365 apps and services on Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) browser. Degraded experience means that new Microsoft 365 features will not be available or certain features may cease to work when accessing the app or service via IE11.

Microsoft suggests that by the dates listed above, users should no longer access Microsoft 365 apps and services using IE11. Microsoft also mentions that legacy IE11 apps will continue to work.

Regarding legacy Microsoft Egde, Microsoft is ending support for the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop app on March 9, 2021 which means legacy Microsoft Edge will not receive new security updates after the mentioned date.

So users still using IE11 or legacy Microsoft Edge should upgrade to the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser in their computer systems.

Also Check:

[News] Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) to Retire on June 15, 2022

[Windows 10 Tip] Block or Prevent Automatic Installation of Microsoft Edge Browser via Windows Update

[Windows 10 Tip] Prevent / Restrict New Microsoft Edge from Replacing and Disabling Old Legacy Edge

[Fix] Prevent or Remove Microsoft Edge Automatic Installation in Windows 7 and 8.1

[Fix] How to Uninstall New Microsoft Edge in Windows 10? Uninstall Button Grayed Out or Disabled