You can’t turn Microsoft Edge into Internet Explorer, and you can’t install Internet Explorer on Windows 11. What you can do is open old websites in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode), a feature built into Edge. Turn it on at edge://settings/defaultBrowser, add the site to the Internet Explorer mode pages list, and reload the page. The site then loads with the old Internet Explorer engine inside an Edge tab.
This guide covers Windows 11 with Microsoft Edge version 155 (the Stable release from October 2026). The same steps apply to any Edge version from 141 onward. A short section covers Windows 10.
Contents
- Can you still use Internet Explorer on Windows 11?
- What IE mode does
- Before you start
- Step 1: Turn on Internet Explorer mode
- Step 2: Add a site to the IE mode pages list
- Step 3: Open the site and check that IE mode is on
- Use the Reload in Internet Explorer mode command
- The 30-day limit and how to renew a site
- How to leave IE mode or remove a site
- If you use Windows 10
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently asked questions
Can you still use Internet Explorer on Windows 11?
No. Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer 11 on June 15, 2022. Microsoft’s retirement FAQ states that the Internet Explorer 11 desktop app is not available on Windows 11, and that Edge is the default browser there.
Windows 11 still includes the engine Internet Explorer used, called MSHTML (also known as Trident). Edge uses that engine to run IE mode. That is why IE mode works on Windows 11 even though the Internet Explorer app doesn’t.
Microsoft does not offer an Internet Explorer download for Windows 11. Be careful with websites or files that claim to install it. A file like that is not from Microsoft, and running it puts your PC at risk.
Microsoft says it will support IE mode through at least 2029 and will give one year of notice before it retires the feature.
What IE mode does
Some older websites were built for Internet Explorer. They may use ActiveX controls (small add-on programs that ran inside Internet Explorer) or old page layouts that modern browsers don’t display correctly. Government portals, banking back offices, school systems, and internal company tools are common examples.
IE mode lets Edge show those pages with the Internet Explorer engine while every other site uses Edge’s normal engine. You don’t switch browsers. You stay in Edge, and only the pages you choose load in IE mode. When a page is in IE mode, an Internet Explorer logo appears on the left side of the address bar.
IE mode is meant for sites that still need it. It isn’t a way to make all of Edge look or act like Internet Explorer.
Before you start
- Update Edge. Open Edge, go to Settings and more (the three dots) > Settings > About Microsoft Edge. Edge checks for updates and installs them. Microsoft notes that IE mode can fail if Windows and Edge aren’t up to date.
- Know whether your PC is managed. On a work or school computer, your organization may control IE mode. You might see the setting but be unable to change it. In that case, contact your IT department.
- Have the website address ready. You’ll type or paste the address of the page that needs IE mode.
Step 1: Turn on Internet Explorer mode
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the address bar, type edge://settings/defaultBrowser, and press Enter. The Default browser settings page opens. You can also get there with Settings and more (…) > Settings > Default browser.
- Find the Internet Explorer compatibility section.
- Next to Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode), open the drop-down menu and select Allow.
- Click the Restart button that appears, or close and reopen Edge. The setting takes effect after the restart.
After Edge restarts, the Default browser page shows an Internet Explorer mode pages section. You’ll use it in the next step.
Step 2: Add a site to the IE mode pages list
Starting with Edge version 141, Microsoft’s instructions for home (non-Enterprise) devices use this list instead of a reload button.
- Go back to edge://settings/defaultBrowser.
- In the Internet Explorer mode pages section, click Add.
- Type or paste the full address of the page, such as the login page of the old site, and click Add.
- The page appears in the list with a Date added and an Expires date.
You can add more than one page. Add each page that needs IE mode, not only the site’s home page, if the site sends you to different addresses.
Step 3: Open the site and check that IE mode is on
- Open a new tab and go to the page you added. If it was already open, reload it.
- Look at the left side of the address bar. The Internet Explorer logo means the page is in IE mode.
- An information bar near the top of the page tells you the page is open in Internet Explorer mode.
Use the site as you normally would.
Use the Reload in Internet Explorer mode command
You may still see a Reload in Internet Explorer mode command in some cases, such as on a managed work PC or an older Edge version. Microsoft’s documentation describes it this way:
- Open the page you need.
- Select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Select Reload in Internet Explorer mode. You can also right-click the tab and select Reload tab in Internet Explorer mode, or right-click a link and choose Open link in new Internet Explorer mode tab.
After the page reloads, a pop-up offers a toggle to open the page in Internet Explorer mode next time. Turning it on adds the page to the IE mode pages list, the same list as Step 2.
On a device managed by an organization, Microsoft says the reload command appears only if the organization allows unconfigured sites to be reloaded in IE mode. If you don’t see it on a home PC with a current version of Edge, use the list in Step 2.
The 30-day limit and how to renew a site
Pages you add to the IE mode pages list don’t stay there forever. Microsoft’s local site list documentation states that entries remain on the list for 30 days by default. On day 31, the page no longer opens in IE mode, and Edge shows a banner explaining that.
To keep using the site, add it again:
- Go to edge://settings/defaultBrowser.
- Check the Expires date next to the page in the Internet Explorer mode pages list.
- After it expires, click Add and enter the address again.
Two related points:
- Organizations can change the expiration period with a policy (from 0 to 90 days). Home users keep the 30-day default.
- The list doesn’t sync across devices. If you use Edge on two PCs, add the page on each one.
How to leave IE mode or remove a site
To stop using IE mode for the page you’re on, select Leave on the information bar at the top of the page, or close the tab and open the site in a new tab. On versions that show the command, you can also select Settings and more (…) > Exit Internet Explorer mode.
To stop a page from opening in IE mode at all, go to edge://settings/defaultBrowser and delete its entry from the Internet Explorer mode pages list with the option shown beside it. You can also wait for the entry to expire.
To turn IE mode off completely, set Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode) to Don’t allow and restart Edge.
If you use Windows 10
The Edge steps above are the same on Windows 10. The difference is what happens to the old Internet Explorer app:
- Microsoft permanently disabled the Internet Explorer 11 app on most Windows 10 versions on February 14, 2023, through an Edge update. Opening Internet Explorer now sends you to Edge, and Microsoft says users can’t reverse that change.
- Windows 10 LTSC editions, used mainly by businesses, were out of scope for that change.
- Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says IE mode support ends on a Windows version when that version’s support ends, so plan to move to Windows 11 if you depend on IE mode.
Troubleshooting
The IE mode setting is grayed out
Your device is probably managed by an organization, and its policy controls IE mode. Microsoft notes that on managed devices the setting can appear but be grayed out. Ask your IT department to add the site to the organization’s site list.
There’s no Reload in Internet Explorer mode option
On home devices running Edge 141 or later, use the Internet Explorer mode pages list in Step 2. Make sure Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode is set to Allow and that you restarted Edge. If the Add button doesn’t appear, update Edge and restart it.
The site stopped opening in IE mode
Check the Expires date in the list. If the 30 days have passed, add the page again. Also check that the address in the list matches the page you open. A site can move you to a different address, such as a separate login page, which may need its own entry.
The page leaves IE mode when I go somewhere else
Microsoft says Edge exits IE mode when you navigate in a way that isn’t within the page, such as typing in the address bar, using the back button, or opening a favorite. Pages on the IE mode pages list reopen in IE mode when you return to them.
The site still doesn’t work in IE mode
IE mode supports ActiveX controls and Internet Explorer document modes, but it doesn’t support Internet Explorer toolbars. If a page still fails, contact the site’s owner and ask whether a modern version exists or which browser they support.
Stay safe in IE mode
Use IE mode only for sites you trust and need. Internet Explorer itself is out of support, so use Edge’s normal mode for everything else. Don’t download “Internet Explorer for Windows 11” installers from other websites.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download Internet Explorer for Windows 11?
No. The Internet Explorer 11 app isn’t available on Windows 11, and Microsoft doesn’t offer a download for it. Use IE mode in Edge instead.
Can I make Edge always open in Internet Explorer mode?
No. Only the pages on your IE mode pages list, or pages your organization configures, open in IE mode. Every other site uses Edge’s normal engine. Organizations can manage a long-term list for all their users through an Enterprise Mode Site List.
Is IE mode the same as setting Internet Explorer as my default browser?
No. You can’t set Internet Explorer as the default browser on Windows 11 because the app isn’t there. If you want a different default browser, see our guide on how to set the default browser in Windows 11. Keep Edge installed if you need IE mode.
Do I need to restart Edge after adding a page?
You need to restart Edge after you change the Allow setting. After that, adding a page and reloading it is usually enough.
How long will IE mode be available?
Microsoft says it will support IE mode through at least 2029 on supported versions of Windows, and it will give one year of notice before retiring it.
Does IE mode work on a Mac or phone?
IE mode depends on the Internet Explorer engine in Windows. Microsoft documents IE mode only for Windows, so don’t expect it in Edge for Mac, iPhone, or Android.
Next step
Turn on IE mode, add the one site you need, and check for the Internet Explorer logo in the address bar. Put a reminder on your calendar for the Expires date so the site doesn’t stop working unexpectedly. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge page lists the current steps if Edge changes again.
Matthew Simpson has been creating online tutorial for computers and smartphones since 2010. His work has been read millions of times and helped people to solve a number of various tech problems. His specialties include Windows, iPhones, and Google apps.