Internet Explorer Latest Version: IE 11, IE Mode & Legacy Testing

What’s the Latest Version of Internet Explorer?

The latest — and last — version of Internet Explorer is Internet Explorer 11, first released on October 17, 2013 alongside Windows 8.1. Microsoft never shipped an IE 12: development ended in favor of Microsoft Edge, and the IE11 desktop application officially retired on June 15, 2022. The IE11 build line (11.0.9600.x, most recently 11.0.9600.23286) now receives security servicing only on Windows editions where IE remains an operating-system component, such as Windows Server and Windows 10 LTSC.

On mainstream Windows 10, launching Internet Explorer now redirects to Microsoft Edge, and Windows 11 never included the standalone browser at all. The Trident (MSHTML) engine is still part of Windows, though — it powers IE mode in Edge, which is why legacy IE-only sites keep working there.

Internet Explorer Version History and OS Compatibility

Internet Explorer spanned 11 major versions over 18 years. Here’s each release, its year, and the Windows versions it natively shipped with:

How to Run Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 11 (Using IE Mode)

You can’t install Internet Explorer on Windows 11 — but you don’t need to. IE mode in Microsoft Edge renders legacy pages with the same Trident engine as IE11, including ActiveX controls. Here’s how to enable it:

• Open Microsoft Edge, go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Default browser, or type edge://settings/defaultBrowser in the address bar.
• Under Internet Explorer compatibility, set “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode” to Allow.
• Restart Microsoft Edge for the setting to take effect.
• On personal devices running Edge 141 or newer (October 2025 onward), add the site’s URL to the “Internet Explorer mode pages” list on the same settings page, then open the site — it reloads in IE mode automatically. Entries stay on the list for 30 days by default.
• On managed work devices, you can instead choose Settings and more (…) > “Reload in Internet Explorer mode” on the open page.
• While in IE mode, the IE logo appears to the left of the address bar; click Leave on the banner to return to normal Edge rendering.

Note: after attackers exploited IE mode via a zero-day in 2025, Microsoft removed the one-click “Reload in Internet Explorer mode” menu entry on unmanaged consumer devices — that’s why the pages-list flow above is now the standard route. Organizations manage IE mode centrally instead, deploying an Enterprise Mode Site List through Group Policy (or Intune), so only approved legacy sites open in IE mode. Microsoft supports IE mode through at least 2029 on supported operating systems — keep in mind Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025, so that qualifier matters.

Can You Still Use Internet Explorer in 2026?

As a day-to-day browser, no — and you shouldn’t: the retired app no longer receives fixes on mainstream Windows. The standalone IE11 application still exists only where it ships as an OS component — Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 and Windows 10 LTSB/LTSC editions — where it follows that operating system’s lifecycle. For everything else, IE-engine content lives on exclusively inside Edge’s IE mode.

How to Test Legacy Websites on Internet Explorer Today

Plenty of enterprise portals, intranets, and government systems still depend on IE11 — usually because their core functionality runs inside ActiveX controls that no modern browser natively supports. Testing them used to mean maintaining old Windows 7 virtual machines or a dusty spare laptop.

The simpler route is the cloud: TestMu AI lets you test on real Internet Explorer browsers online — genuine IE versions running on real Windows machines, streamed to your current browser. You can use the IE emulator online from any OS, including Internet Explorer on Mac, spin up a legacy Windows 7 environment online, and verify how the same pages behave in modern browsers with cross browser testing — no VMs to patch, no legacy hardware to keep alive.

How to Check Your Internet Explorer Version

On a system that still has the IE11 app (Windows Server or LTSC editions):

• Open Internet Explorer.
• Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner.
• Select About Internet Explorer.
• A pop-up will display your current version — the final build line is 11.0.9600.x.

In Edge’s IE mode, there’s no separate version to check — the IE logo beside the address bar confirms the page is rendering with the IE11 engine that ships with your copy of Windows.

Why Microsoft Edge Replaced Internet Explorer

• Better Security: Edge receives Chromium security updates every few weeks; retired IE gets none on mainstream Windows.
• Modern Web Standards: Edge supports current HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript features that IE11 never implemented.
• Faster Performance: Edge is optimized for speed and efficiency on modern hardware.
• Built-in Compatibility: IE mode covers the legacy sites, so there’s no reason to keep IE itself.

Curious where Edge stands now? See the current Microsoft Edge latest version, or check the latest Windows version your browser is running on.

What Browser Do You Use?

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Explorer

What is the latest version of Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer 11 is the latest and final version of Internet Explorer — there was never an IE 12. It was released on October 17, 2013 with Windows 8.1, and its build line (11.0.9600.x) still receives security servicing only on Windows editions where IE remains an OS component, such as Windows Server. The IE11 desktop app itself was retired on June 15, 2022.

Can I run IE11 on Windows 11?

Not as a standalone browser — Windows 11 has never included Internet Explorer, and attempts to launch it are redirected to Microsoft Edge. The supported way to render IE-engine content on Windows 11 is IE mode in Microsoft Edge: enable 'Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode' under Settings > Default browser, restart Edge, and add the site to your Internet Explorer mode pages list.

How can I install Internet Explorer on Windows 11?

You can't. Internet Explorer is no longer offered through the Microsoft Download Center, and it cannot be installed on Windows 11. Microsoft's supported path for legacy sites is IE mode in Microsoft Edge, which uses the same Trident (MSHTML) engine as IE11 and supports ActiveX controls.

Can you still use Internet Explorer in 2026?

Only in limited ways. The IE11 desktop app was permanently disabled on consumer Windows 10 by an Edge update on February 14, 2023, and Windows 11 never shipped it. IE11 still exists as an OS component on Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 and Windows 10 LTSC editions, following those systems' lifecycles. For everyone else, IE mode in Microsoft Edge is the supported option — Microsoft has committed to it through at least 2029.

Is Internet Explorer 11 still available?

The standalone app is retired and disabled on mainstream Windows 10, and unavailable on Windows 11. It remains available as an OS component on long-term-servicing editions (Windows Server 2016/2019/2022, Windows 10 LTSB/LTSC), where it follows the operating system's support lifecycle. For testing legacy sites without maintaining those environments, cloud platforms provide real IE11 browsers on demand.