How to Install Internet Explorer on Windows: A Comprehensive Guide
While Microsoft Edge is now the default browser on Windows, there are still valid reasons why you might need to use Internet Explorer (IE). Perhaps you need to access older websites or web applications that are not fully compatible with modern browsers, or maybe you have a specific requirement for IE within your organization. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to install or re-enable Internet Explorer on your Windows system.
**Important Note:** Microsoft has officially ended support for most versions of Internet Explorer. Using it poses security risks as it no longer receives security updates. Consider using IE mode in Microsoft Edge as a safer alternative if possible. IE mode allows you to load websites using the IE rendering engine within the modern Edge browser.
However, if you still need to install or enable the standalone Internet Explorer, follow the instructions below:
## Understanding the Situation: Is Internet Explorer Really Gone?
Before you start, it’s important to understand that Internet Explorer is often *not* completely removed from Windows, even if you don’t see a shortcut or find it easily. In many cases, it’s simply disabled or hidden. Therefore, the steps often involve re-enabling it rather than performing a full installation from scratch. Also, the specific methods for accessing and enabling IE can vary slightly depending on your version of Windows (Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.). This guide will cover the most common scenarios.
## Method 1: Enabling Internet Explorer via Windows Features (Recommended)
This is the most straightforward and recommended method to re-enable Internet Explorer, as it utilizes built-in Windows functionality.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Control Panel:**
* **Windows 10:** Click the Start button, type “Control Panel”, and select it from the search results.
* **Windows 11:** Click the Start button, type “Control Panel”, and select it from the search results. Alternatively, right-click the Start button and choose “Run”, then type “control” and press Enter.
2. **Navigate to Programs:**
* In Control Panel, if you are in Category view, click on “Programs”.
* If you are in Icon view (Large icons or Small icons), click on “Programs and Features”.
3. **Open “Turn Windows features on or off”:**
* In the Programs and Features window, click on “Turn Windows features on or off” in the left-hand sidebar. You might need administrative privileges to proceed. If prompted, click “Yes” to allow changes.
4. **Locate and Enable Internet Explorer:**
* A window titled “Windows Features” will appear. Scroll down the list and look for “Internet Explorer 11” (or a similar version number). If the box next to it is unchecked, click the box to select it.
* **Important:** Ensure that *only* the box next to “Internet Explorer 11” (or the available version) is checked. Do not enable any other unfamiliar features unless you know what they are for.
5. **Click OK:**
* After selecting the Internet Explorer feature, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the Windows Features window. Windows will now apply the changes, which may take a few minutes.
6. **Restart Your Computer:**
* You will be prompted to restart your computer to complete the installation/re-enabling process. Click “Restart now”. It’s crucial to restart to ensure that all changes are properly applied and that Internet Explorer functions correctly.
7. **Find Internet Explorer:**
* After restarting, Internet Explorer should now be accessible. You can find it by:
* Typing “Internet Explorer” in the Windows search bar (click the Start button and start typing).
* Looking for it in the Start Menu under “Windows Accessories” or a similar folder.
8. **Create a Shortcut (Optional):**
* To make it easier to access Internet Explorer in the future, you can create a shortcut on your desktop:
* Find “Internet Explorer” in the Start Menu or search results.
* Right-click on “Internet Explorer”.
* Select “Pin to Start” (to add it to the Start Menu) or “More” -> “Pin to taskbar” (to add it to the taskbar) or “Open file location”. From the File Explorer window, right click the Internet Explorer shortcut and select “Send to” -> “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
## Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Alternative Method)
This method uses the command prompt to enable Internet Explorer. It’s an alternative if the Windows Features method doesn’t work as expected, or if you prefer using the command line.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator:**
* Click the Start button, type “cmd”, right-click on “Command Prompt” in the search results, and select “Run as administrator”. You must run Command Prompt with administrator privileges for this method to work.
2. **Execute the DISM Command:**
* In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
`DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64`
* **Note:** If you are using a 32-bit version of Windows, replace `Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64` with `Internet-Explorer-Optional-x86`.
* The command might take a few minutes to complete. The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool will connect to Windows Update to download and install the necessary files.
3. **Restart Your Computer:**
* Once the DISM command has finished executing (it will display a message indicating completion), restart your computer. This is essential to finalize the changes.
4. **Find Internet Explorer:**
* After restarting, Internet Explorer should be accessible as described in step 7 of Method 1.
## Method 3: Re-registering Internet Explorer DLLs (For Advanced Users – Use with Caution)
This method involves re-registering the Internet Explorer DLL files. It is generally only recommended if the previous methods have failed, and you are comfortable working with the command line and system files. **Incorrectly registering DLL files can cause system instability, so proceed with extreme caution and only if you understand the risks involved.**
**Steps:**
1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator:**
* Follow the same instructions as in Method 2, step 1 to open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. **Navigate to the Internet Explorer Directory:**
* In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
`cd C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer`
* This command changes the current directory in Command Prompt to the Internet Explorer installation directory. If Internet Explorer is installed in a different location on your system, adjust the path accordingly.
3. **Re-register DLL Files:**
* Now, you need to re-register each of the essential Internet Explorer DLL files. Type the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each command:
* `regsvr32 iertutil.dll`
* `regsvr32 ieproxy.dll`
* `regsvr32 browseui.dll`
* `regsvr32 mshtml.dll`
* `regsvr32 shdocvw.dll`
* `regsvr32 actxprxy.dll`
* `regsvr32 urlmon.dll`
* `regsvr32 msjava.dll` (This may not be present on all systems)
* `regsvr32 jscript.dll` (If you still need it for compatibility)
* `regsvr32 vbscript.dll` (If you still need it for compatibility)
* For each command, a dialog box should appear confirming that the DLL file was successfully registered. If you encounter any errors, note them down and troubleshoot accordingly (common errors might indicate missing DLL files or permission issues).
4. **Restart Your Computer:**
* After re-registering all the DLL files, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.
5. **Find Internet Explorer:**
* After restarting, Internet Explorer should be accessible as described in step 7 of Method 1.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even after following these steps, you might encounter some issues. Here’s how to troubleshoot some common problems:
* **Internet Explorer Not Listed in Windows Features:** If you don’t see “Internet Explorer 11” (or a similar version) in the Windows Features list, it might indicate a problem with your Windows installation. In this case, you might need to run a System File Checker scan (using the `sfc /scannow` command in Command Prompt as administrator) to repair any corrupted system files. Alternatively, you could consider performing a Windows repair install.
* **Internet Explorer Fails to Launch:** If Internet Explorer launches but immediately crashes or displays an error message, try the following:
* **Reset Internet Explorer Settings:** Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner, and select “Internet options”. Go to the “Advanced” tab and click the “Reset” button. This will restore Internet Explorer to its default settings.
* **Disable Add-ons:** Some add-ons can cause conflicts and stability issues. Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon (Settings) and select “Manage add-ons”. Disable all add-ons and then re-enable them one at a time to identify the problematic one.
* **Check Compatibility View Settings:** Some websites might not display correctly unless they are added to the Compatibility View list. Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon (Settings), select “Compatibility View settings”, and add the website’s address to the list.
* **Update Graphics Drivers:** Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can sometimes cause issues with Internet Explorer’s rendering engine. Visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download and install the latest drivers.
* **Check for Malware:** Malware infections can sometimes interfere with Internet Explorer. Run a full system scan using a reputable antivirus program.
* **”This program is blocked by group policy” Error:** If you encounter this error when trying to launch Internet Explorer, it means that a Group Policy setting is preventing you from running the program. This is more common in corporate environments. To resolve this, you will need to contact your IT administrator to modify the Group Policy settings.
* **Internet Explorer Displays Websites Incorrectly:** Ensure Compatibility View settings are appropriately configured. Also, clear the cache and cookies in Internet Explorer’s settings. If the problem persists, the website may simply not be compatible with older versions of Internet Explorer.
## Understanding Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge (A Safer Alternative)
As mentioned earlier, Microsoft recommends using Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge as a safer alternative to running the standalone Internet Explorer. This mode allows you to load websites using the IE rendering engine within the modern Edge browser, providing better security and compatibility.
**How to Enable Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge:**
1. **Open Microsoft Edge:** Launch the Microsoft Edge browser.
2. **Go to Settings:** Click on the three dots (ellipsis) in the top-right corner of the Edge window and select “Settings”.
3. **Navigate to Default Browser:** In the Settings menu, click on “Default browser” in the left-hand sidebar.
4. **Enable “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode”:** In the “Internet Explorer compatibility” section, find the option “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode)”. Set this option to “Allow”.
5. **Restart Edge:** You will be prompted to restart Microsoft Edge for the changes to take effect. Click “Restart”.
**How to Load a Website in Internet Explorer Mode:**
1. **Open the Website in Edge:** Navigate to the website you want to load in IE mode using Microsoft Edge.
2. **Reload in IE Mode:** Click on the three dots (ellipsis) in the top-right corner of the Edge window.
3. **Select “Reload in Internet Explorer mode”:** In the menu that appears, select “Reload in Internet Explorer mode”.
4. **Confirm:** The website will now reload using the Internet Explorer rendering engine. You will see an IE icon in the address bar indicating that the site is being displayed in IE mode.
**Managing IE Mode Sites:**
* You can configure specific websites to always open in IE mode by adding them to a list in Edge’s settings. In the “Internet Explorer compatibility” section of Edge’s settings (Settings -> Default browser), there is an option called “Internet Explorer mode pages”. Click the “Add” button to add specific URLs to this list. Sites in this list will automatically open in IE mode whenever you visit them.
* Consider configuring Enterprise Mode Site List for larger organizations. This allows centralized management of websites that require IE compatibility.
## Conclusion
While Internet Explorer is becoming increasingly outdated and unsupported, there are still situations where it might be necessary to use it. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can re-enable or install Internet Explorer on your Windows system. However, remember the security risks involved in using an unsupported browser. Prioritize using Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge whenever possible, as it provides a safer and more modern way to access websites that require IE compatibility. If you choose to use the standalone Internet Explorer, ensure that you take extra precautions to protect your system from potential security threats by keeping your antivirus software up-to-date and avoiding suspicious websites.