Internet Explorer version history#Microsoft Internet Explorer

{{See also|Internet Explorer Mobile}}

IE versions, over time, have had widely varying OS compatibility, ranging from being available for many platforms and several versions of Windows to only a few versions of Windows. Many versions of IE had some support for an older OS but stopped getting updates. The increased growth of the Internet in the 1990s and 2000s means that current browsers with small market shares have more total users than the entire market early on. For example, 90% market share in 1997 would be roughly 60 million{{cite web| title = History and Growth of the Internet | url = http://www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm | access-date = March 3, 2007}} users, but by the start of 2007 90% market share would equate to over 900 million users. The result is that later versions of IE6 had many more users in total than all the early versions put together.

The release of IE7 at the end of 2006 resulted in a collapse of IE6 market share; by February 2007, market version share statistics showed IE6 at about 50% and IE7 at 29%.{{cite web| url = http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=6&qpmr=55&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=M&qpsp=97 | title = Market share for browsers, operating systems and search engines| access-date= March 3, 2007}} Regardless of the actual market share, the most compatible version (across operating systems) of IE was 5.x, which had Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X, Unix, and most Windows versions available and supported for a short period in the late 1990s (although 4.x had a more unified codebase across versions). By 2007, IE had much narrower OS support, with the latest versions supporting only Windows XP Service Pack 2 and above. Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 7.0 (Experimental) have also been unofficially ported to the Linux operating system from the project IEs4Linux.

file:Internet Explorer 1.0.png

Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.0 made its debut on August 24, 1995. It was a reworked version of Spyglass Mosaic which Microsoft had licensed, like many other companies initiating browser development, from Spyglass Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm |title=MICROSOFT'S $8 MILLION GOODBYE TO SPYGLASS |access-date=February 9, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Elstrom |date=January 22, 1997 |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970629174318/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm |archive-date=June 29, 1997 }} It came with the purchase of Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 and with at least some OEM releases of Windows 95 without Plus!.{{cite web|url=http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29919|title=Windows 95, original release, without Internet Explorer?|publisher=betaarchive.com|access-date=February 7, 2015}} It was installed as part of the Internet Jumpstart Kit in Plus! for Windows 95.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx|title=The History of Internet Explorer|publisher=Microsoft|first=Sandi|last=Hardmeier|date=August 25, 2005|access-date=February 9, 2011}} The Internet Explorer team began with about six people in early development.{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2009-1032-995681.html|title=Software empire pays high price|publisher=CNET Networks|work=CNET News|date=April 15, 2003|first=John|last=Borland|access-date=February 9, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ericsink.com/Browser_Wars.html|title=Memoirs From the Browser Wars|first=Eric |last=Sink |publisher=Ericsink.com |work=Eric Weblog|date=April 15, 2003|access-date=November 2, 2013}} Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.5 was released in fall 1995 for Windows NT and added support for basic HTML table rendering. By including it free of charge on their operating system, they did not have to pay royalties to Spyglass Inc, resulting in a lawsuit and a US$8 million settlement on January 22, 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx|title=Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up|publisher=WindowsITPro|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Thurrott|date=January 22, 1997|access-date=February 9, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919002551/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx|archive-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}

Although not included, this software can also be installed on the original release of Windows 95.

Internet Explorer 1.x is no longer supported, or available for download from Microsoft. However, archived versions of the software can be found on various websites. Support for Internet Explorer 1.0 ended on December 31, 2001, the same day as older Windows Versions.

Internet Explorer came with an install routine replacing a manual installation required by many of the existing web browsers.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |access-date=February 10, 2011 |title=Windows History |publisher=Microsoft |date=June 30, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002010203/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |archive-date=October 2, 2003 |df=mdy-all }}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 2}}

Microsoft Internet Explorer 2 was released for Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51, and NT 4.0 on November 27, 1995 (following a 2.0 beta in October). It featured support for JavaScript, SSL, cookies, frames, VRML, RSA, and Internet newsgroups. Version 2 was also the first release for Windows 3.1 and Macintosh System 7.0.1 (PPC or 68k), although the Mac version was not released until January 1996 for PPC, and April for 68k.{{cite web|url=http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1996.htm |title=Computer History |publisher=islandnet.com }} Version 2.1 for the Mac came out in August 1996, although by this time, Windows was getting 3.0. Version 2 was included in Windows 95 OSR 1 and Microsoft's Internet Starter Kit for Windows 95 in early 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/apr96/iemompr.mspx |title=Microsoft Internet Explorer Web Browser Available on All Major Platforms, Offers Broadest International Support |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=October 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115072757/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/apr96/iemompr.mspx |archive-date=January 15, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} It launched with twelve languages, including English, but by April 1996, this was expanded to 24, 20, and 9 for Win 95, Win 3.1, and Mac, respectively. The 2.0i version supported double-byte character-set.

{{Main|Internet Explorer 3}}

Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 was released on August 13, 1996, and went on to be much more popular than its predecessors. It was the first major browser with CSS support, although this support was only partial. It also introduced support for ActiveX controls, Java applets, inline multimedia, and the PICS system for content metadata. Version 3 also came bundled with Internet Mail and News, NetMeeting, and an early version of the Windows Address Book, and was itself included with Windows 95 OSR 2. Version 3 proved to be the first more popular version of Internet Explorer, bringing with it increased scrutiny. In the months following its release, a number of security and privacy vulnerabilities were found by researchers and hackers. This version of Internet Explorer was the first to have the 'blue e' logo. The Internet Explorer team consisted of roughly 100 people during the development of three months.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com/2009-1032-995681.html?tag=toc |title=Victor: Software empire pays high price | CNET News.com |publisher=News.com |access-date=October 17, 2008 |archive-date=February 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221021334/https://www.cnet.com/news/ |url-status=dead }} The first major IE security hole, the Princeton Word Macro Virus Loophole, was discovered on August 22, 1996, in IE3.{{Cite web|author=((thespike67))|date=2012-06-17|title=Internet Explorer History|url=https://thespike67.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/internet-explorer-history/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=The Help Desk Corner|language=en}}

Backwards compatibility was handled by allowing users who upgraded to IE3 to still use the previous version, because the installation renamed the old version (incorporating the old version number) and stored it in the same directory."By having IE3 rename your previous version, Microsoft gives you a fallback in case IE3 crashes. IE3 also scans for Netscape bookmarks and converts them to IE3 favorites." {{cite web |url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/2801/internet-explorer-30.html |title=Internet Explorer 3.0 |author=Jonathan Chau |date=November 1, 1996 |access-date=September 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630010046/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/2801/internet-explorer-30.html |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 4}}

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4, released on September 22, 1997, deepened the level of integration between the web browser and the underlying operating system. Installing version 4 on Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 and choosing Windows Desktop Update would result in the traditional Windows Explorer being replaced by a version more akin to a web browser interface, as well as the Windows desktop itself being web-enabled via Active Desktop. The integration with Windows, however, was subject to numerous packaging criticisms (see United States v. Microsoft). This option was no longer available with the installers for later versions of Internet Explorer, but was not removed from the system if already installed. It introduced support for Group Policy, allowing companies to configure and lock down many aspects of the browser's configuration as well as support for offline browsing.{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa768170(VS.85).aspx |title=Supporting Offline Browsing in Applications and Components |date=August 15, 2017 |publisher=Microsoft }} Internet Mail and News was replaced with Outlook Express, and Microsoft Chat and an improved NetMeeting were also included. This version was also included with Windows 98. New features that allowed users to save and retrieve posts in comment forms were added, but they are not used today. Internet Explorer 4.5 offered new features such as easier 128-bit encryption. It also offered a dramatic stability improvement over prior versions, particularly the 68k version, which was especially prone to freezing.{{cite web|url=http://cws.internet.com/file/11708.htm |title=WinPlanet IE4 Review |publisher=cws.internet.com }}{{cite web|url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/broadband/reviews/671/internet-explorer-4.html |title=PC Pro IE4 Review |publisher=pcpro.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050321093900/http://www.pcpro.co.uk/broadband/reviews/671/internet-explorer-4.html |archive-date=March 21, 2005 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://www.macuser.co.uk/macuser/reviews/16079/microsoft-internet-explorer-v40.html|title=MacUser IE 4 Review|author=Stroud, Forrest|publisher=macuser.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209093222/http://www.macuser.co.uk/macuser/reviews/16079/microsoft-internet-explorer-v40.html|archive-date=February 9, 2005|df=mdy-all}}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 5.0}}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 5.5}}

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, launched on March 18, 1999, and subsequently included with Windows 98 Second Edition and bundled with Office 2000, was another significant release that supported bi-directional text, ruby characters, XML, XSLT, and the ability to save web pages in MHTML format. IE5 was bundled with Outlook Express 5. Also, with the release of Internet Explorer 5.0, Microsoft released the first version of XMLHttpRequest, giving birth to Ajax (even though the term "Ajax" was not coined until years later). It was the last with a 16-bit version. Internet Explorer 5.01, a bug fix version included in Windows 2000, was released in December 1999 and it is the last version of Internet Explorer to run on Windows 3.1x and Windows NT 3.51. Internet Explorer 5.5 followed in June 2000, improving its print preview capabilities, CSS and HTML standards support, and developer APIs; this version was bundled with Windows ME. However, version 5 was the last version for Mac and UNIX. Version 5.5 was the last to have Compatibility Mode, which allowed Internet Explorer 4{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/197311/EN-US/ |title=KB197311 |publisher=support.microsoft.com }} to be run side by side with the 5.x series.{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/237787 |title=MS Article ID 237787 |publisher=support.microsoft.com }} The IE team consisted of over 1,000 people by 1999, with funding on the order of {{USD|100 million}} per year. Version 5.5 is also the last version of Internet Explorer to run on Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 SP3–SP6.

{{Main|Internet Explorer 6}}

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 was released on August 24, 2001, a few months before Windows XP. This version included DHTML enhancements, content restricted inline frames, and partial support of CSS level 1, DOM level 1, and SMIL 2.0.{{cite web|url=http://www.axistive.com/smil-standards-and-microsoft-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.html |title=SMIL Standards and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 |access-date=May 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603084409/http://www.axistive.com/smil-standards-and-microsoft-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.html |archive-date=June 3, 2007 |df=mdy-all }} The MSXML engine was also updated to version 3.0. Other new features included a new version of the Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK), Media bar, Windows Messenger integration, fault collection, automatic image resizing, P3P, and a new look-and-feel that was in line with the Luna visual style of Windows XP, when used in Windows XP. Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1, which offered several security enhancements, coincided with the Windows XP SP1 patch release and it is the last version of Internet Explorer to support Windows NT 4.0 SP6a, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP RTM–SP1 and Windows Server 2003 RTM. In 2002, the Gopher protocol was disabled, and support for it was dropped in Internet Explorer 7.{{cite web|url = http://gopher.floodgap.com/gopher/gw?gopher.floodgap.com/0/gopher/wbgopher |title = Using a web browser to access gopher space |access-date=May 11, 2007}} Internet Explorer 6.0 SV1{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2004/09/02/224902.aspx |title=XPSP2 and its slightly updated user agent string |date=September 2, 2004 |work=IEBlog |publisher=MSDN |access-date=September 26, 2010}} SV1 stands for "Security Version 1", referring to the set of security enhancements made for that release []. This version of Internet Explorer is more popularly known as IE6 SP2, given that it is included with Windows XP Service Pack 2, but this can lead to confusion when discussing Windows Server 2003, which includes the same functionality in the SP1 update to that operating system. came out on August 6, 2004 for Windows XP SP2 and offered various security enhancements and new colour buttons on the user interface. Internet Explorer 6 updated the original 'blue e' logo to a lighter blue and more 3D look. Microsoft now considers IE6 to be an obsolete product and recommends that users upgrade to Internet Explorer 8. Some corporate IT users have not upgraded despite this, in part because some still use Windows 2000, which will not run Internet Explorer 7 or above.{{cite web|url=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/042610-ie6-corporate-users.html|title=Corporate IT just won't let IE6 die|access-date=June 6, 2010|archive-date=May 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501160055/http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/042610-ie6-corporate-users.html|url-status=dead}} Microsoft has launched a website, https://web.archive.org/web/20110304205645/http://ie6countdown.com/, with the goal of getting Internet Explorer 6 usage to drop below 1 percent worldwide. Its usage is 6% globally as of October 2012, and now about 6.3% since June 2013, and depending on the country, the usage differs heavily: while the usage in Norway is 0.1%, it is 21.3% in the People's Republic of China.{{cite web |url=http://www.ie6countdown.com/ |title=The Internet Explorer 6 Countdown |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=December 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514011142/http://www.ie6countdown.com/ |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }} On January 3, 2012, Microsoft announced that usage of IE6 in the United States had dropped below 1%.{{cite web | url=http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/internet-explorer2/microsoft-6-usage-drops-1-percent-141778 | title=Microsoft: IE 6 Usage Drops Below 1 Percent in US | publisher=Paul Thurott's Supersite for Windows | date=January 3, 2012 | access-date=January 3, 2012 | author=Thurott, Paul | pages=1}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398345,00.asp|title=IE6 Usage Drops Below 1 Percent in U.S.|access-date=January 4, 2012 | work=PC Magazine|first=Michael|last=Muchmore|date=January 4, 2012}}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 7}}

Windows Internet Explorer 7 was released on October 18, 2006. It includes bug fixes, enhancements to its support for web standards, tabbed browsing with tab preview and management, a multiple-engine search box, a web feeds reader, Internationalized Domain Name support (IDN), Extended Validation Certificate support, and an anti-phishing filter. With IE7, Internet Explorer has been decoupled from the Windows Shell—unlike previous versions, the Internet Explorer ActiveX control is not hosted in the Windows Explorer process, but rather runs in a separate Internet Explorer process. It is included with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, and is available for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and later, and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and later. Internet Explorer 7 is the last version of Internet Explorer to support Windows XP x64 Edition RTM and Windows Server 2003 SP1. The original release of Internet Explorer 7 required the computer to pass a Windows Genuine Advantage validation check prior to installing, but on October 5, 2007, Microsoft removed this requirement. As some statistics show, by mid-2008, Internet Explorer 7 market share exceeded that of Internet Explorer 6 in a number of regions.{{cite web|url=https://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp|title=Browser statistics|publisher=W3Schools|access-date=August 4, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser_version-ww-monthly-200807-200808|title=Browser statistics|publisher=Statcounter|access-date=January 22, 2012}}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 8}}

Windows Internet Explorer 8 was released on March 19, 2009. It is the first version of IE to pass the Acid2 test, and the last of the major browsers to do so (in the later Acid3 Test, it only scores 24/100.). According to Microsoft, security, ease of use, and improvements in RSS, CSS, and Ajax support were its priorities for IE8.{{cite web | url=http://www.news.com/2100-1012_3-6181334.html | title=Microsoft Hints at General Plan for IE 8 | publisher=CBS Interactive | work=CNET | date=May 3, 2007 | last=LaMonica | first=Martin | access-date=January 29, 2018 | archive-date=May 13, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513143903/http://www.news.com/2100-1012_3-6181334.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070502-microsoft-drops-hints-about-internet-explorer-8.html | title=Microsoft Drops Hints about Internet Explorer 8 | publisher=Condé Nast | work=Ars Technica | date=May 2, 2007 | last=Reimer | first=Jeremy}}

Internet Explorer 8 is the last version of Internet Explorer to support Windows XP SP2–SP3, Windows XP x64 Edition SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista RTM–SP1 and Windows Server 2008 RTM.{{cite web | url=http://dvice.com/archives/2010/03/internet-explor.php | title=Internet Explorer 9 Adds HTML5, Drops Windows XP | publisher=NBCUniversal Media | work=Dvice.com | date=March 17, 2010 | last=Hall | first=Kevin | access-date=January 29, 2018 | archive-date=August 20, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820075603/http://dvice.com/archives/2010/03/internet-explor.php | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-ie9-developer-preview-with-html5-support-ready-for-download/5572 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510035947/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-ie9-developer-preview-with-html5-support-ready-for-download/5572 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 10, 2010 | title=Microsoft IE9 Developer Preview with HTML5 Support Ready for Download | publisher=CBS Interactive | last=Foley | first=Mary Jo | website=ZDNet | date=March 16, 2010}} Support for Internet Explorer 8 is bound to the lifecycle of the Windows version it is installed on as it is considered an OS component, thus it is unsupported on Windows XP due to the end of extended support for the latter in April 2014. Effective January 12, 2016, Internet Explorer 8 is no longer supported on any client or server version of Windows, due to new policies specifying that only the newest version of IE available for a supported version of Windows will be supported.{{cite web | url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9246877/US_CERT_urges_XP_users_to_dump_IE | title=US-CERT urges XP users to dump IE | publisher=IDG | work=Computerworld | access-date=April 6, 2014 | first=Gregg | last=Keizer | date=March 11, 2014 | archive-date=March 15, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315135011/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9246877/US_CERT_urges_XP_users_to_dump_IE | url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Internet Explorer Support Announcement |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle#gp/msl-ie-dotnet-an |date=August 7, 2015 |website=Microsoft Support Lifecycle|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=August 18, 2015}} However several Windows Embedded versions will remain supported until their respective EOL, unless otherwise specified.{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ|url=http://support2.microsoft.com/gp/microsoft-internet-explorer/en-us|work=Microsoft Lifecycle Support Website|access-date=April 10, 2016|archive-date=December 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209133844/http://support2.microsoft.com/gp/microsoft-internet-explorer/en-us|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Internet Explorer 9}}

Windows Internet Explorer 9 was released on March 14, 2011.{{cite press release | url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/mar11/03-14IE9RTWPR.mspx | title=Microsoft Announces Global Availability of Internet Explorer 9 | publisher=Microsoft | date=March 14, 2011 | access-date=May 28, 2011}} Development for Internet Explorer 9 began shortly after the release of Internet Explorer 8.{{cite web | url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forget-about-IE8-Onward-to-Internet-Explorer-9-in-Windows-7-74575.shtml | title=Forget about IE8 – Onward to Internet Explorer 9 in Windows 7 | publisher=SoftNews Net SRL | work=Softpedia | date=December 20, 2007 | access-date=May 28, 2011 | author=Oiaga, Marcus}} Microsoft first announced Internet Explorer 9 at PDC 2009, and spoke mainly about how it takes advantage of hardware acceleration in DirectX to improve the performance of web applications and quality of web typography. At MIX 10, Microsoft showed and publicly released the first Platform Preview for Internet Explorer 9, a frame for IE9's engine not containing any UI of the browser.{{Cite web |date=2010-03-16 |title=Microsoft Announces Hardware-Accelerated HTML5, Pushes Boundaries on Web and Cloud Development |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2010/03/16/microsoft-announces-hardware-accelerated-html5-pushes-boundaries-on-web-and-cloud-development/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=Microsoft News |language=en-US}} Leading up to the release of the final browser, Microsoft released updated platform previews, each featuring improved JavaScript compiling (32-bit version), improved scores on the Acid3 test, as well as additional HTML5 standards support, approximately every six weeks. Ultimately, eight platform previews were released. The first public beta was released at a special event in San Francisco, which was themed around "the beauty of the web". The release candidate was released on February 10, 2011, and featured improved performance, refinements to the UI, and further standards support. The final version was released during the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive conference in Austin, Texas, on March 14, 2011.

Internet Explorer 9 is the last version of Internet Explorer to support Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, Windows 7 RTM, Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM and Windows Phone 7.5.{{cite web | url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie-9/system-requirements | title=Internet Explorer 9 system requirements | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=July 9, 2011}} It supports several CSS 3 properties (including border-radius, box-shadow, etc.), and embedded ICC v2 or v4 colour profiles support via Windows Color System. The 32-bit version has faster JavaScript performance, this being due to a new JavaScript engine called "Chakra".{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2010/03/16/html5-hardware-accelerated-first-ie9-platform-preview-available-for-developers.aspx | title=HTML5, Hardware Accelerated: First IE9 Platform Preview Available for Developers | publisher=Microsoft | work=IEBlog | date=March 16, 2010 | access-date=May 28, 2011}} It also features hardware accelerated graphics rendering using Direct2D, hardware-accelerated text rendering using DirectWrite, hardware-accelerated video rendering using Media Foundation, imaging support provided by Windows Imaging Component, and high fidelity printing powered by the XPS print pipeline.{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2010/04/09/benefits-of-gpu-powered-html5.aspx | title=Benefits of GPU-powered HTML5 | publisher=Microsoft | work=IEBlog | date=April 9, 2010 | access-date=May 28, 2011}} IE9 also supports the HTML video and audio tags and the Web Open Font Format.{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2010/04/23/meet-woff-the-standard-web-font-format.aspx | title=Meet WOFF, The Standard Web Font Format | publisher=Microsoft | work=IEBlog | date=April 23, 2010 | access-date=May 28, 2011}} Internet Explorer 9 initially scored 95/100 on the Acid3 test, but has scored 100/100 since the test was updated in September 2011.{{cite web | url=http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/benchmarks/Acid3/Default.html | title=The Web Standards Project's Acid3 Test | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=May 28, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127194948/http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/Benchmarks/Acid3/Default.html | archive-date=November 27, 2012 | url-status=dead }}

Internet Explorer was to be omitted from Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in Europe, but Microsoft ultimately included it, with a browser option screen allowing users to select any of several web browsers (including Internet Explorer).{{cite web |title=Microsoft and EU settle dispute |newspaper=Irish Times |date=December 16, 2009 |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/microsoft-and-eu-settle-dispute-1.850722}}{{cite news|title=Microsoft pledges EU alternatives to Explorer|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2009/1217/Pg019.html|work=Irish Times|date=December 17, 2009|page=19|url-access=registration }}{{Cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010527045_microsofteu17.html | work=The Seattle Times | title=After years of fighting, Microsoft and EU settle antitrust case without rancor | date=December 16, 2009}}{{cite news |title=Brussels accepts Microsoft's browser offer |newspaper=Financial Times |location= United Kingdom |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ea476aa0-eaac-11de-a9f5-00144feab49a.html }}{{Cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1948381,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219211005/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1948381,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 19, 2009 | magazine=Time | title=In E.U. Deal, Microsoft Allows Rival Browsers | date=December 17, 2009 | access-date=May 5, 2010}}

Internet Explorer is now available on Xbox 360 with Kinect support, as of October 2012, although this version is extremely limited today.{{cite news |last=Kerr |first=Dara |title=Xbox 360 Kinect said to add Internet Explorer browsing: Rumor has it users may soon be able to surf the Web on Microsoft's gaming console and do so with voice and gesture commands |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=May 10, 2012 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57432284-75/xbox-360-kinect-said-to-add-internet-explorer-browsing/ |access-date=May 20, 2012}}

{{Clear}}

File:Internet Explorer 10 (Windows 8 app).png ]]

{{Main|Internet Explorer 10}}

Internet Explorer 10 became generally available on October 26, 2012, alongside Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, but is by now supported on Windows Server 2012, while Windows Server 2012 R2 only supports Internet Explorer 11. It became available for Windows 7 SP1 on February 26, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3514_7-57571231/ie-reborn-internet-explorer-10-arrives-on-windows-7/ |title=IE reborn: Internet Explorer 10 arrives on Windows 7 |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |last=Rosenblatt |first=Seth |date=February 26, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2013}} Microsoft announced Internet Explorer 10 in April 2011, at MIX 11 in Las Vegas, releasing the first Platform Preview at the same time. At the show, it was said that Internet Explorer 10 was about three weeks in development.{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2011/04/12/native-html5-first-ie10-platform-preview-available-for-download.aspx | title=Native HTML5: First IE10 Platform Preview Available for Download | publisher=Microsoft | work=IEBlog | date=April 12, 2011 | access-date=May 28, 2011}} This release further improves upon standards support, including HTML5 Drag & Drop and CSS3 gradients.{{cite web

| url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215791/Windows_Vista_No_IE10_for_you

| title=Windows Vista: No IE10 for you

| work=Computerworld

| publisher=Computerworld Inc

| date=April 13, 2011

| access-date=April 21, 2011

| last=Keizer

| first=Gregg

| quote=When Vista users try to install the IE10 preview, they see a dialog box that reads, "Windows Internet Explorer Platform Preview does not support any operating system earlier than Windows 7," after which the installation process terminates.

| archive-date=October 28, 2012

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028210939/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215791/Windows_Vista_No_IE10_for_you

| url-status=dead

}}

Internet Explorer 10 Release Preview was also released on the Windows 8 Release Preview platform.

{{Main|Internet Explorer 11}}

Internet Explorer 11 is featured in a Windows 8.1 update which was released on October 17, 2013. It includes an incomplete mechanism for syncing tabs. It features a major update to its developer tools,{{cite web|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|title=Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview for Windows 7|url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/internet-explorer-11-developer-preview-windows-7|work=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows|publisher=Penton|access-date=July 26, 2013|date=July 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726114752/http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/internet-explorer-11-developer-preview-windows-7|archive-date=July 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{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}} 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}} HTML5 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}} hardware-accelerated JPEG decoding,{{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}} closed captioning, HTML5 full screen,{{cite web|last=Brinkmann|first=Martin|title=The Internet Explorer 11 Preview for Windows 7 is now available|url=http://www.ghacks.net/2013/07/25/the-internet-explorer-11-preview-for-windows-7-is-now-available/|work=Ghacks.net|publisher=ghacks Technology News|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=July 25, 2013|archive-date=July 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727193814/http://www.ghacks.net/2013/07/25/the-internet-explorer-11-preview-for-windows-7-is-now-available/|url-status=dead}} and is the first Internet Explorer to support WebGL{{cite web|title=Latest Windows 8.1 build beefs up IE developer tools|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57582508-75/latest-windows-8.1-build-beefs-up-ie-developer-tools/ |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 29, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Microsoft teases Internet Explorer 11 WebGL support on Vine|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/22/4355942/internet-explorer-11-webgl-support-teased-on-vine|work=The Verge|date=May 22, 2013|access-date=May 29, 2013}}{{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}} and Google's protocol SPDY (starting at v3).{{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}} This version of IE has features dedicated to Windows 8.1, including cryptography (WebCrypto), adaptive bitrate streaming (Media Source Extensions){{cite web|last=Williams|first=Mike|title=Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview now available for Windows 7|url=http://betanews.com/2013/07/26/internet-explorer-11-developer-preview-now-available-for-windows-7/|work=BetaNews|publisher=BetaNews, Inc|access-date=July 27, 2013|date=July 26, 2013}} and Encrypted Media Extensions.

Internet Explorer 11 was made available for Windows 7 users to download on November 7, 2013, with Automatic Updates in the following weeks.{{cite web|title=IE11 for Windows 7 Globally Available for Consumers and Businesses |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2013/11/07/ie11-for-windows-7-globally-available-for-consumers-and-businesses.aspx |access-date=November 8, 2013}}

Internet Explorer 11's user agent string now identifies the agent as "Trident" (the underlying browser engine) instead of "MSIE". It also announces compatibility with Gecko (the browser engine of Firefox).

Microsoft claimed that Internet Explorer 11, running the WebKit SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark, was the fastest browser as of October 15, 2013.{{cite web | url=http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/benchmarks/SunSpider/SunSpiderResultsIE11GA.png | title=WebKit SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark Results | publisher=ie.microsoft.com | access-date=October 23, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061619/http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/benchmarks/SunSpider/SunSpiderResultsIE11GA.png | archive-date=October 23, 2013 | url-status=dead }}

Since January 12, 2016, only the most recent version of Internet Explorer offered for installation on any given Windows operating system is supported with security updates, lasting until the end of the support lifecycle for that Windows operating system. On Windows 7 and 8.1, only Internet Explorer 11 received security updates until the end of those Windows versions' support lifecycles.{{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 |publisher=Microsoft |date=January 5, 2016 |access-date=January 6, 2016}} Support for Internet Explorer 11 is bound to the lifecycle of the Windows version it is installed on as it is considered an OS component, thus it is unsupported on Windows 7 due to the end of extended support on January 14, 2020. Internet Explorer 11 was made available for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard, the only still supported edition of Windows 8 in April 2019. It is the only supported version of Internet Explorer on these operating systems since January 31, 2020.{{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}}{{cite web |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17454/lifecycle-faq-internet-explorer |title=Lifecycle FAQ |website=support.microsoft.com |access-date=February 1, 2019}}

Internet Explorer 11 follows the OS component lifecycle,{{cite web| url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/fixed-policy#how-is-a-component-supported-under-the-fixed-lifecycle-policy| title=Lifecycle FAQ - Fixed Policy|website=docs.microsoft.com|access-date=April 7, 2021}} which means it remains supported with technical and security fixes as long as the operating system including it as a component remains supported. This means that Internet Explorer 11 support will end on January 13, 2032, along with the end of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 support, barring any changes to the support policy.{{cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021 |title=Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}{{cite web| url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-za/lifecycle/products/internet-explorer-11| title=Internet Explorer 11|website=docs.microsoft.com|access-date=April 7, 2021}} On August 17, 2020, Microsoft published a timeline indicating that the Microsoft Teams product would stop supporting Internet Explorer 11 on November 30, 2020, and Microsoft 365 products ended support for Internet Explorer 11 on August 17, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/microsoft-365-apps-say-farewell-to-internet-explorer-11-and/ba-p/1591666 |title=Microsoft 365 apps say farewell to Internet Explorer 11 |website=techcommunity.microsoft.com |access-date=August 18, 2020}} In May 2021, Microsoft announced that support for Internet Explorer 11 on editions of Windows 10 that are not in the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) would end on June 15, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/05/19/the-future-of-internet-explorer-on-windows-10-is-in-microsoft-edge/|title=The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge|author=Sean Lyndersay|date=2021-05-19|access-date=2021-08-12|website=Microsoft}} Internet Explorer 11 was thought to not be on Windows 11, Windows Server Insider Build 22463 and Windows Server Insider Build 25110 as a separate application - however, a few people managed to access it, through the question mark in the Internet Options window. However, while the browser itself is no longer supported, it is supported as IE mode in Edge, including on Windows 11, Windows Server Insider Build 22463 and Windows Server Insider Build 25110.{{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 said that it will maintain support for this feature until 2029 at the earliest, and that it will provide one year's notice before its discontinuation.{{Cite web|title=Lifecycle FAQ - Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge|access-date=2021-10-12|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}} IE mode uses the Trident MSHTML engine.{{Cite web|title=What is Internet Explorer mode?|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode|access-date=2021-10-12|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}

{{main|History of Internet Explorer}}

Legend: {{legend inline|#fdb3ab|Unsupported version{{efn|group=Internet Explorer version|Versions that have this color have reached their expiration dates and are no longer supported by Microsoft.}}|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend inline|#fef8c6|Old version, still maintained{{efn|group=Internet Explorer version|Versions that have this color are no longer the latest version of Windows 11, but are still supported by Microsoft.}}|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend inline|#d4f4b4|Latest version{{efn|group=Internet Explorer version|Versions that have this color are the latest public version of Internet Explorer.}}|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

• Internet Explorer
• Features of Internet Explorer
• History of Internet Explorer

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite web|title=Microsoft Windows Family Home Page |work=Windows History: Internet Explorer History |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |access-date=May 12, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002010203/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |archive-date=October 2, 2003 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{cite web | title=Index DOT Html and Index DOT Css | work=Browser History: Windows Internet Explorer | url=http://www.blooberry.com/indexdot/history/ie.htm | access-date= May 12, 2005}}
• {{cite web|title=Microsoft Windows Family Home Page |work=Windows History: Internet Explorer History |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |access-date=May 12, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002010203/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx |archive-date=October 2, 2003 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{cite web | title=Microsoft Knowledge Base | work=How to determine which version of Internet Explorer is installed | url=http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=164539 | access-date=November 6, 2005}}

{{Refend}}

{{Internet Explorer|state=open}}

{{Timeline of web browsers|1990s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Internet Explorer Versions}}

Category:Internet Explorer

Category:Software version histories