How to enable or fully disable Internet Explorer on the latest versions of Windows 10

Home » How-To

Reading time icon 2 min. read

Calendar icon Updated on

by Michael Allison 

updated on

Share this article

Readers help support MSpoweruser. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser sustain the editorial team Read more

Jeff Wilcox Windows Internet Explorer 7 (Chalk Logo)

While Microsoft has moved to Edge for Windows 10 on the desktop, Internet Explorer still remains available as an option. Unlike three years ago when we first wrote this article on how to find and run Internet Explorer, Microsoft has since developed Edge much further, Users can now expect a plethora of features built around reading, inking and similar. Edge is also easier on the eyes, comes with a beautiful built-in dark mode and fluent design, and can support progressive web apps. In short, Edge is for the modern computer user.

Still, if you do want to run Internet Explorer for reasons like legacy app support or just familiarity, you can find it by searching with Cortana, or in the Start Menu where it’s buried.

How to find Internet Explorer in the Start Menu

  1. Open the Start Menu
  2. Look for the Windows Accessories subfolder.
  3. Open it, Internet Explorer will be there, nestled among other obsolete Windows utilities.
Now, Internet Explorer isn’t for everyone. It’s actually for almost no-one right now. Microsoft leaves it enabled for users who want to run legacy web apps that will (for some reason) only run in Internet Explorer. If you don’t particularly care like 99% of people, there’s a quick way to disable Internet Explorer so it’s completely out of the way.

Here’s how to enable and disable it it

  1. Open Start > Search > Windows Features
  2. Look for Turn Windows Features on or off.
  3. Select or de-select Internet Explorer depending on what you want to do.
  4. Select Ok.
  5. Restart your device.
Michael Allison

Michael Allison Shield

Senior Editor

Senior editor at @MSpoweruser. Writes about all Windows 10, Skype, Surface, Edge. Also covers social media news.

User forum

0 messages