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Microsoft To Axe Internet Explorer After 25 Years

Microsoft To Axe Internet Explorer After 25 Years

The web browser is no more

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

It's a day that many of us hoped would never come, but after 25 years it's the end of the road for Internet Explorer.

Yep, Microsoft's iconic web browser is set for the scrapheap after the tech firm announced that it would not be using the app in the future.

Writing in a blog post, Microsoft's 365 product team confirmed that it will no longer support Internet Explorer 11, the latest version, from 30 November 2020.

And by 17 August 2021, none of Microsoft's 365 app and services will work with the browser, and those sites that were designed for Explorer will see a 'degraded experience'.

It's the end of an era.

The post reads: "This means that after the above dates, customers will have a degraded experience or will be unable to connect to Microsoft 365 apps and services on IE 11.

Microsoft confirmed that the web browser would no long be supported.
PA

"For degraded experiences, new Microsoft 365 features will not be available or certain features may cease to work when accessing the app or service via IE 11."

But it's been a long time coming, with leaner and better browsers, such as Microsoft's Edge browser, which came out five years ago, as well as those of its competitors, with Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome browsers dominating the market.

Speaking to The Verge last year, Chris Jackson, a cybersecurity expert in Microsoft's Windows division, said time was running out for Explorer.

He said: "We're not supporting new web standards for it and, while many sites work fine, developers by and large just aren't testing for Internet Explorer these days. They're testing on modern browsers."

Internet Explorer is set for the scrapheap.
PA

In a blog post, Mr Jackson added: "If we continued our previous approach, you would end up in a scenario where, by optimizing for the things you have, you end up not being able to use new apps as they come out.

"As new apps are coming out with greater frequency, what we want to help you do is avoid having to miss out on a progressively larger portion of the web."

This makes way for the tech giant's new Edge app, which they will be pushing from now on.

Microsoft announced that from 9 March 2021 it would also be ending support for its Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop app, with it receiving no more security updates.

The latest blog post says: "The new Microsoft Edge is our best expression of a modern browser-we're excited for customers to experience it. Apps and sites created for Microsoft Edge Legacy will continue to work in the new Microsoft Edge, but if a compatibility issue does arise, we have our App Assure promise to provide support."

Featured Image Credit: PA