:w:en:Internet Explorer 11
{{Short description|Web browser by Microsoft for Windows released in 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Internet Explorer 11
| logo = 70px
| logo size = 70px
| screenshot = Internet Explorer 11 screenshot.png
| caption = Screenshot of Internet Explorer 11
| developer = Microsoft
| released = {{Start date and age|2013|10|17}}
| latest release version = 11.0 (11.0.9600.22617)
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|6|10}}{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5060996-cumulative-security-update-for-internet-explorer-june-10-2025-bd2c4ad0-2bf8-4fd9-80a1-48b599ddd68f|title=KB5060996: Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer: June 10, 2025 - Microsoft Support|website=support.microsoft.com}}
| operating system = Windows 7 SP1
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
Windows Embedded 8 Standard
Windows Server 2012
| included with = Windows 8.1
Windows RT
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows 10
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2022
| replaces = Internet Explorer 10 (2012)
| engine = MSHTML v8.0, Chakra
| platform = IA-32, x64, and ARM
| replaced_by = Microsoft Edge Legacy (2015)
| size = 28–53 MB
| license = Proprietary, requires a Windows license{{cite web|title=Microsoft Pre-Release Software License Terms: Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/ie11-win7-preview-software-license|work=microsoft.com|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=July 27, 2013}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/internet-explorer.aspx}}
}}
Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) is the eleventh and final version of the Internet Explorer web browser, by now retired. It was initially included in the release of Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on October 17, 2013, and was later released for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 on November 7, 2013. It is the successor to Internet Explorer 10, released the previous year, and was the original, default browser in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. Internet Explorer 11 was also included in the release of Windows 10 on July 29, 2015, as well as in Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019. On April 16, 2019, Internet Explorer 11 was made available to Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard as the final expansion of Internet Explorer 11 availability.{{cite web|url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-embedded-blog/ie11-coming-to-windows-embedded-8-standard/ba-p/326747|title=IE11 coming to Windows Embedded 8 Standard!|date=2019-01-28|access-date=2022-09-23|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923144220/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-embedded-blog/ie11-coming-to-windows-embedded-8-standard/ba-p/326747|archive-date=2022-09-23|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-makes-final-push-to-rid-world-of-internet-explorer-10/|title=Microsoft makes final push to rid world of Internet Explorer 10|last=Tung|first=Liam|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2019-03-13}} Internet Explorer 11, like its predecessor, is not available for Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and earlier versions of Windows and Windows Server.
Microsoft adjusted their product lifecycle policies to only support the most recent version of Internet Explorer offered for any given version of Windows on January 12, 2016,{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/WindowsForBusiness/End-of-IE-support |title=Support for older versions of Internet Explorer ends on January 12, 2016 |website=Microsoft |access-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109124653/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/WindowsForBusiness/End-of-IE-support |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |url-status=dead}} and later expanded to Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard on January 31, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812121833/https://mcpmag.com/articles/2019/01/30/ie-10-support-cliff-in-2020.aspx |title=Microsoft Warns of IE 10 Support Cliff in 2020 |website=Certified Professional Magazine |publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://mcpmag.com/articles/2019/01/30/ie-10-support-cliff-in-2020.aspx |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |url-status=live}} Support for Internet Explorer 11, now regarded as an "OS component", is bound to the version of the Windows it is installed on. Thus, Microsoft provides updates only to currently supported versions of Windows. This includes Windows 10 LTSC (formerly LTSB), and supported Windows Server versions, which will continue to receive IE11 updates until their respective end-of-support dates. The exception to this is the Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel (SAC). For SAC versions of Windows 10, Internet Explorer 11 support ended on June 15, 2022, and it was permanently disabled on February 14, 2023. Any remaining icons or shortcuts were due to be removed on June 13, 2023, however, on May 19, 2023, various organizations disapproved, leading Microsoft to withdraw the change.{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge |title=Lifecycle FAQ - Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge |date=2021-11-03 |access-date=2022-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613224114/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |title=Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ |date=2022-06-13 |access-date=2022-06-13 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613223618/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-status=live}} Furthermore, despite Microsoft's alleged permanent IE11 disablement, IE11 can still be accessed in some capacity using unofficial methods.{{Cite news |last=Tkachenko |first=Sergey |date=2022-08-04 |title=How to launch Internet Explorer on Windows 11 if you really need it |url=https://winaero.com/how-to-launch-internet-explorer-on-windows-11-if-you-really-need-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240919032050/https://winaero.com/how-to-launch-internet-explorer-on-windows-11-if-you-really-need-it/ |archive-date=2024-09-19 |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=Winaero |language=en-US}}
IE Mode, a feature of Microsoft Edge, enables Edge to display web pages using Internet Explorer 11's Trident layout engine and other core components.{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode |title=What is Internet Explorer (IE) mode? |date=2022-03-02 |access-date=2022-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613233617/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-status=live}} Through IE Mode, the underlying technology of Internet Explorer 11 partially exists on Windows that do not support Internet Explorer as a proper application, such as Windows 11 and later versions that derive from the Windows 11 codebase.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550714/microsoft-windows-11-internet-explorer-disabled|title=Windows 11 is deleting Internet Explorer|author=Tom Warren|website=The Verge|date=2021-06-25|access-date=2021-08-12}} Microsoft has announced support for IE Mode through at least 2029, with a one-year advance notice prior to retiring this variant of IE11.
Internet Explorer 11 is already retired and out of support (i.e. most often the desktop browser was disabled and Edge took its place), for e.g. Home and Pro (with some paid ESU exception to 2028{{Cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/extended-security-updates|title=Product Lifecycle FAQ - Extended Security Updates|website=learn.microsoft.com}}), with some exceptions such as for the Windows 10 China Government Edition,{{Cite news |title=Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ {{!}} Microsoft Community Hub |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/2366549 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250123184955/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/2366549 |archive-date=2025-01-23 |access-date=2025-01-24 |work=TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM |language=en-US}} and the Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge remains, so in that sense the core of IE 11 (its rendering engine) remains supported.{{Cite web |title=Lifecycle FAQ - Windows |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/windows |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us}} Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (for specialized devices – for example, those that control medical equipment or automated teller machines) has end of support on January 13, 2032, and with it support for Internet Explorer 11 fully ends (if not sooner in 2029 as explained above).
Changes
File:Internet Explorer 11 Running on Windows Server 2012.PNG
IE11 features redesigned developer tools,{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/bg182632(v=vs.85) |title=What's new in F12 Tools (Preliminary) |work=MSDN |publisher=Microsoft |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2013}} support for WebGL,{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/bg182648(v=vs.85) |title=WebGL (Preliminary) |work=MSDN |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013}} enhanced scaling for high DPI screens,{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/dn265030(v=vs.85) |title=High DPI support (Preliminary) |work=MSDN |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013}} prerender and prefetch.{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ie/dn265039(v=vs.85) |title=Prerender and prefetch support (Preliminary) |work=MSDN |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013}} After launch IE11 got support for HTTP/2.{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2014/10/08/http2-the-long-awaited-sequel/|title=HTTP/2: The Long-Awaited Sequel|work=IEBlog|access-date=April 24, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|title=Microsoft Confirms IE11 Will Support Google's SPDY Protocol|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/26/microsoft-confirms-ie11-will-support-googles-spdy-protocol/|work=TechCrunch|publisher=Aol|access-date=September 10, 2013|date=June 26, 2013}}{{citation |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-releases-for-download-ie11-for-windows-7/ | title=Microsoft releases for download IE11 for Windows 7 | date=November 7, 2013 | access-date=November 7, 2013|first=Mary Jo | last=Foley}} In addition, IE11 supports Full Screen and Orientation APIs, CSS border image support, JavaScript enhancements, DOM mutation observers, Web Cryptography API, video text track support, encrypted media support and an improved HTML editor.{{citation | url=http://www.sitepoint.com/internet-explorer-11-review/ | title=Internet Explorer 11: the Review | website=SitePoint.com | first=Craig | last=Buckler | date=November 7, 2013 | access-date=November 7, 2013}} IE11 uses Transport Layer Security v1.2 as the default protocol for secure connections and deprecates RC4 cipher suite.{{cite web|last=Peteroy|first=William|title=Security Advisory 2868725: Recommendation to disable RC4|url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2013/11/12/security-advisory-2868725-recommendation-to-disable-rc4.aspx|work=Security Research & Defense|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 13, 2014|date=November 12, 2013}}
The "document mode" feature in the developer toolset (F12) allows simulating the rendering behaviour of Internet Explorer versions 5 to 10 to facilitate testing pages for compatibility.{{Cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/internet-explorer/ie-developer/compatibility/jj676915(v=vs.85)|title=Specifying legacy document modes (Internet Explorer)|website=learn.microsoft.com}}
Internet Explorer 11 for Windows RT does not support Java and other add-ons.{{cite web|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/install-java#ie=ie-11 |title=Install Java in Internet Explorer |work=Windows Help |publisher=Microsoft |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=May 8, 2016}}
=Removed features=
- IE11 has deprecated
document.all, meaning that code that checks for its presence will not detect it, but code that actually uses it will continue to work.{{cite web |url=http://www.nczonline.net/blog/2013/07/02/internet-explorer-11-dont-call-me-ie/ |title=Internet Explorer 11: "Don't call me IE" |work=NCZOnline |first=Nicholas C. |last=Zakas |date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=January 22, 2014}} Additionally, theattachEventproprietary API has been removed. - Quick Tabs (CTRL+Q){{cite web|url=http://connect.microsoft.com/IE/feedback/details/795366/ctrl-q-disappeared-from-ie11 |title=Ctrl+Q disappeared from IE11?, Microsoft Connect |publisher=Microsoft |date=July 30, 2013 |access-date=November 13, 2013}}
- Work Offline command removed from File menu{{cite web|author=EricLaw [ex-MSFT] |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ieinternals/archive/2013/09/24/internet-explorer-11-changelist-change-log.aspx |title=IE11 Changes: IEInternals blog |work=IEInternals |publisher=Microsoft |date=September 24, 2013 |access-date=May 8, 2016}}
- Drag and drop of selected content from IE to other programs like Word or WordPad{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}
- Use large icons for command buttons
- Some Group Policy settings are no longer supported.{{cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/internet-explorer/ie11-deploy-guide/new-group-policy-settings-for-ie11 |title=New group policy settings for Internet Explorer 11 |work=Microsoft TechNet |publisher=Microsoft |date=April 6, 2016 |access-date=May 8, 2016}}
- Ability to view all cookies at once via Developer Tools
- Ability to disable tabbed browsing
- autocomplete="off" for input type="password"
=Added features=
- KB3058515 released on June 9, 2015, added HTTP Strict Transport Security support to IE 11.{{cite web|title=HTTP Strict Transport Security comes to Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7|url=http://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2015/06/09/http-strict-transport-security-comes-to-internet-explorer-11-on-windows-8-1-and-windows-7/|publisher=Microsoft}}
- KB3139929 bundles a patch which adds advertising of a Windows 10 upgrade offer to the new tab page.{{cite web|title=Windows patch KB 3139929: When a security update is not a security update|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/3042155/microsoft-windows/windows-patch-kb-3139929-when-a-security-update-is-not-a-security-update.html|website=InfoWorld|date=March 9, 2016|access-date=March 10, 2016}}
Performance
In a November 2013 review by SitePoint, IE11 scored better than Google Chrome 30 and Firefox 26 in WebKit's SunSpider test and Google's WebGL test. It tied with Chrome for fastest in Microsoft's "fish aquarium" benchmark for WebGL and came last in Google's V8 performance benchmark. As a result of the speed improvements, the reviewer said "if you switched to Chrome for speed alone, you're now using the wrong browser." IE11 was also observed to use less memory with multiple tabs open than contemporary versions of Chrome and Firefox.
In August 2015, SitePoint again benchmarked IE11 in its review for Microsoft Edge [Legacy], where Edge 12, Chrome 44 and Firefox 39 were also present. IE11 came last in Apple's JetStream test (which replaced SunSpider) and Google's Octane test (which replaces V8) but it came second in Microsoft's "fish aquarium" test, after Edge.{{cite web|last1=Buckler|first1=Craig|title=Microsoft Edge: the Review|url=https://www.sitepoint.com/microsoft-edge-review/|website=SitePoint|date=August 18, 2015}}
History
Though an internal build of IE11 was leaked on March 25, 2013,{{cite web|last=Sakr|first=Sharif|title=Internet Explorer 11 user agent makes browser look like Firefox, thumbs nose at legacy CSS hacks|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/03/25/ie-11-says-it-is-like-firefox/|work=Engadget|publisher=Aol|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=May 25, 2013}} its first preview version was not formally released until June 2013, during the Build 2013 conference, along with the preview release of Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2013/06/26/introducing-ie11-the-best-way-to-experience-the-web-on-modern-touch-devices.aspx|title=Introducing IE11: The Best Way to Experience the Web on Modern Touch Devices|work=IEBlog|publisher=Microsoft |date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=July 27, 2013}} On July 25, 2013, Microsoft released the developer preview of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview: FAQ|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/ie-11-faq|work=microsoft.com|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=July 26, 2013}}
{{Version |l |show=10110}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ History of Internet Explorer releases |
| Name
! Version ! Release date ! Works on ! New features |
|---|
| rowspan=2 {{Version |o |Developer Preview}}
| rowspan=2 {{Version |o | 11.0.9431.0}} | Windows 8.1 Preview | rowspan="2" | WebGL, CSS border image, improved JavaScript performance, major update to Internet Explorer Developer Tools, hardware-accelerated JPEG decoding, closed captioning, HTML5 full screen, HTML5 prerender, HTML5 prefetch, Windows 8.1 only: cryptography (WebCrypto), adaptive bitrate streaming (Media Source Extensions), Encrypted Media Extensions, SPDY v3 |
| {{dts|2013-07-25}} |
| {{Version |o |Release Preview}}
| {{Version |o | 11.0.9600.16384}} | Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 | Performance improvements |
| {{Version |o |Internet Explorer 11}}
| {{Version |o | 11.0.9600.16384}} | {{dts|2013-10-17}} | Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022 | Uses the same build number as the Release Preview. Released for Windows 10, where Microsoft Edge is the default browser from Microsoft in this version of Windows. Internet Explorer is set up to run websites, based on legacy HTML technologies, which are not, or improperly, supported in Microsoft Edge. |
| {{Version |c |Internet Explorer 11}}
| {{Version |c | 11.0.9600.22617}} | {{dts|2025-06-10}} | Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 | |
While there were no other releases of Internet Explorer, an update for Windows 7 and 8.1 was released on April 2, 2014, which added Enterprise Mode, improved developer tools, improved support for WebGL and ECMAScript 5.1.{{citation | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2014/04/02/announcing-an-updated-version-of-internet-explorer-11-available-on-windows-8-1-windows-7-and-windows-phone-8-1.aspx | title=Announcing an updated version of Internet Explorer 11 – available on Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Phone 8.1 | date=April 3, 2014| access-date=July 27, 2014}}
With the release of Windows 11, Windows Server Insider Build 22463 and later,{{Cite web|last=Blog|first=Windows Insider|date=2021-06-28|title=Announcing the first Insider Preview for Windows 11|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2021/06/28/announcing-the-first-insider-preview-for-windows-11/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Windows Insider Blog|language=en-US}} Internet Explorer is no longer preinstalled on any new devices (the application that is, while its core component is due to Microsoft's integration of IE in Windows), but users can still launch Internet Explorer from the Control Panel's browser toolbar settings on or via the PowerShell. Microsoft Edge is the only preinstalled browser in the operating system. An Internet Explorer mode is however provided in Microsoft Edge to run legacy websites.{{Cite web|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2021-06-25|title=Windows 11 is deleting Internet Explorer|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550714/microsoft-windows-11-internet-explorer-disabled|access-date=2021-06-29|website=The Verge|language=en}} On February 14, 2023, Microsoft permanently disabled IE11 on the Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) as part of a Microsoft Edge update released on February 14, 2023. IE11 visual references, such as the IE11 icons on the Start Menu and taskbar, were set to be removed from Windows 10 SAC by the June 2023 Windows security update ("B" release) on June 13, 2023, however this decision has been reverted.
See also
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Tony|title=Why Internet Explorer 11 is the right browser for business|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045355/why-internet-explorer-11-is-the-right-browser-for-business.html|work=PC World|publisher=IDG|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=July 26, 2013}}
Internet Explorer 11.0.9431.0 may be downloaded from {{cite web|title=Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39677|work=Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 10, 2013|date=July 25, 2013}}
Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.16384 may be downloaded from {{cite web|title=Internet Explorer 11 Release Preview for Windows 7 64-bit Edition and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit Edition|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40292|work=Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 18, 2013|date=September 17, 2013}}
{{cite web|last=Popa|first=Bogdan|title=Internet Explorer 11.0.1 Released for Windows 8.1 Users|url=https://www.softpedia.com/blog/Internet-Explorer-11-0-1-Released-for-Windows-8-1-Users-399757.shtml|work=Softpedia|publisher=SoftNews|access-date=February 2, 2014|date=November 13, 2013}}
{{cite web|title=Windows 8.1 is available now|url=http://news.microsoft.com/2013/10/17/windows-8-1-is-available-now/|work=Microsoft News Center|publisher=Microsoft|date=October 17, 2013|access-date=February 24, 2015}}
}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111004232651/http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/ Internet Explorer Test Drive]
- [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/ IEBlog: Windows Internet Explorer Engineering Team Blog] at MSDN Blogs
- [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/aa740470 Internet Explorer Community Resources] at Microsoft Developer Network
- [https://status.modern.ie/ Internet 11 Development Status of Features] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811011550/https://status.modern.ie/ |date=August 11, 2015 }}
{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=Internet Explorer 10}}
{{S-ttl|title=Internet Explorer 11|years=2013}}
{{S-end}}
{{Internet Explorer}}
{{Timeline of web browsers|2010s}}
{{Web browsers}}
Category:Windows-only freeware