Microsoft starting last-minute push to get Windows users to upgrade to IE11

IE10 will soon exit support, leaving many Windows users without any security or non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content.

Fortunately, Microsoft is giving Windows users a last chance to upgrade to IE11, currently behind Firefox the 3rd most popular browser on the internet. While IE10 is exiting support in 2020, IE11 will remain supported for some time still.

Of course, one might rightly ask who are the poor still stuck on IE10. They know who they are of course, but the answer is mainly enterprise users on platforms such as Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard. Microsoft will be offering this select group, who previously had no option to upgrade to IE11, the ability to download IE11 via the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft will also publish the IE11 upgrade through Windows Update and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) for all versions of Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard later this year.

Microsoft suggests companies start testing the upgrade today in their test environments or pilot rings, but warns the deadline is coming and will leave users unable to make the leap unsupported. Microsoft notes that IE11 has Enterprise Mode which emulates IE10 and should take care of compatibility issues.

Those stuck in locked down environment with IE10 should, therefore, look forward to the much greater, fast and fluid performance of IE11, coming to a PC near you soon.

Read more about the transition at Microsoft here.