In a blog post on Wednesday, Microsoft highlighted the myriad benefits of transitioning to Microsoft Edge. Those benefits include enhanced security, speed, and compatibility with a greater range of websites.
"The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge," the company said. "Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications."
The tech giant noted that Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) built in, so users will still be able to access Explorer-based websites and apps from the newer browser. That said, Microsoft said it’s officially pulling the browser out of service next summer.
“With Microsoft Edge capable of assuming this responsibility and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10,” the company wrote.
Upgrading is easy
Microsoft has been moving closer to making this announcement for some time. Last year, Microsoft said its Microsoft 365 apps suite would no longer support Internet Explorer 11 as of August 17, 2021. The company touted the various benefits of switching to Edge and said users would “get the most out of Microsoft 365” by switching to its newer browser.
The company said it’s committed to helping make the transition to Edge “as smooth as possible.” In its Wednesday blog post, Microsoft said users will find that it’s easy to move all of their passwords and data over to the new browser.
“We’ve also aimed to make the upgrade to Microsoft Edge simple. Once you’ve opted in to moving to Microsoft Edge, it’s easy to bring over your passwords, favorites and other browsing data from Internet Explorer in a few clicks,” the company said. “And if you run into a site that needs Internet Explorer to open, Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode built-in so you can still access it.”