Microsoft Officially Retires Internet Explorer

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The classic internet browser has reached the end of the line.

In the mid-90s, Microsoft released the original Internet Explorer internet browser, one of the programs that would streamline and popularize the use of the internet. Over the years, however, Internet Explorer would become overshadowed by browsers from other developers like Firefox and Chrome, as well as Microsoft’s own Edge browser. It also became the subject of a handful of antitrust controversies.

Due to its increasing obsolescence, Microsoft has officially made the decision to retire the Internet Explorer browser as of today. While the program can still be used, Microsoft will no longer be offering updates or tech support for it.

“Over the next few months, opening Internet Explorer will progressively redirect users to our new modern browser, Microsoft Edge with IE mode,” Sean Lyndersay, a general manager for Microsoft, wrote in an official blog post. “Users will still see the Internet Explorer icon on their devices (such as on the taskbar or in the Start menu) but if they click to open Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge will open instead with easy access to IE mode. Eventually, Internet Explorer will be disabled permanently as part of a future Windows Update, at which point the Internet Explorer icons on their devices will be removed.”

“Microsoft Edge will also check in with the user every 30 days to make sure they still need IE mode for the site,” Lyndersay added. “As more and more sites get updated to modern standards, users will need to use IE mode less and the modern rendering engine more.”

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