Can Internet Explorer Be Uninstalled?

Have you ever wanted to get Internet Explorer uninstalled from your computer? If so, you’re not alone. If you’ve regularly been online over the past two decades, you are likely aware of the challenges associated with it.

In the online world, the web browser you use can make a huge difference in the kind of user experience you have. Furthermore, a well performing web browser can protect your device and the sensitive information stored on it.

Today we will help you decide whether or not it’s a good idea to have Internet Explorer uninstalled from your computer.

What Is Internet Explorer?

In the good old days, Internet Explorer was the most popular web browser around. Its debut was in 1995. From there, the height of its reign lasted through the 90s and into the early 2000s. As well as that, up to 95% of PC users were regularly using IE until 2003.

Internet explorer allowed for new innovations like CSS. These new innovations enabled a change in the way we interacted with our web pages. As a result, overall aesthetics and ease of use were greatly improved for the user. To the delight of programmers, the floodgates of color were unleashed upon the internet landscape. With stunning vividness and range, new possibilities emerged. Images became sharper and clearer, adding to visual appeal. Buttons and links were more dynamic and intuitive.

Together, all these features enabled Internet explorer to far surpass its competitor, Netscape, who simply could not keep up with the pace of newly emergent technology. Not to mention, Microsoft was giving Internet Explorer away for free.

Enter Firefox in 2002 and Chrome in 2008. Consequently, Internet Explorer began to fall from grace. In fact, as technology evolved Microsoft failed to keep up with security and bug fixes. Therefore, numerous security threats emerged.

Another problem was that Internet Explorer was designed to be deeply integrated into the Windows operating system. As a result, this made it difficult to uninstall Internet Explorer, without causing operational issues.

By 2006, Internet Explorer was on its way out. Then in 2009, Google Chrome emerged on the scene and became very popular. In contrast, Internet Explorer continued to experience inferior ratings and a poor user experience. Collectively, all these elements fueled its eventual demise. Internet Explorer simply could not make a comeback. Indeed, even with the new release of Internet Explorer 8, it was too late.

Why Would I Want to Uninstall Internet Explorer?

Simply put, Internet Explorer is obsolete. As we have learned, it has not been updated and is using older technology. Therefore, it only functions on legacy websites that are running old code. Even Chris Jackson, Senior Cybersecurity Architect at Microsoft, recommends updating to a modern browser.

As a result, there is no longer a reason for programmers to test for compatibility or optimize sites to run in Internet Explorer. Few people are using it.

Plus, in 2014 Microsoft announced it was ending support for Internet Explorer. Support for older versions 8 – 10 would end by 2016. To remedy all the failings of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge was introduced in 2015.

The challenge is, Internet Explorer is deeply integrated into your computer. Completely removing the application may cause problems with your system.

These older versions are considered to be the most unsafe, as they use outdated security standards, and may pose a significant security risk to your system. For this reason, people who use the older versions are at an increased risk of being hacked.

Most of us keep a lot of personal information on our computers. Therefore, it’s important to keep your programs and applications up to date, especially your browser. Internet Explorer simply is not as secure as modern web browsers.

After all this, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 7, and Internet Explorer 10 and 11, in January 2020. This means they no longer offer security fixes for these applications. Thus, hackers and other nefarious types can take advantage of these unpatched security holes.

Ways to Get Around Internet Explorer Browser Limitations

If you are using Windows 10, your computer likely comes with Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. However, with Edge running the show, Internet Explorer seldom makes an appearance. In fact, you may not even notice its presence, even though it is installed on your computer.

Understandably, you may want to free up some space on your system and have Internet Explorer uninstalled.

However, it may be a good idea to keep Internet Explorer around, as there are some websites that still use it. In fact, many companies are still using Internet Explorer. This is because they have custom, in-house programs that are based upon it.

You might be wondering, “Why does Microsoft bundle Edge with Internet Explorer 11?” Essentially, older websites might not load well in Microsoft Edge. By having Internet Explorer on your device, you can still visit websites that utilize older technology. As a result, you are provided with a seamless user experience between older and newer sites.

How to Disable Internet Explorer on Your Computer.

Click on the Start Menu.
Type in, search for, and then open your Control Panel.
Inside your Control Panel, click on the Programs icon.
Click on the Turn Windows Features On or Off link.
Scroll down and click on the Internet Explorer 11 option to highlight it.
Uncheck the box beside Internet Explorer 11.
To deactivate, click okay.
When the warning dialogue box pops up, select yes and continue.

To finish, you will want to restart your computer. Once you reboot, Internet Explorer will no longer be active on your system.

How Do I Uninstall Internet Explorer?

You likely want to have Internet Explorer uninstalled. Never the less, some people say you can, others say you can’t, and finally, there are those who say you shouldn’t.

The challenge is, Internet Explorer is deeply integrated into your computer. Completely removing the application may cause problems with your system.

To be on the safe side, it is best to simply work around Internet Explorer for the time being. Also, if you work for an employer, you may want to check with your manager and/or IT department before you have Internet Explorer uninstalled.

Now if your tech person advises you to remove it and they can guarantee that there won’t be any systemic issues, then go ahead and remove it.

If you’ve had it with Internet Explorer and you simply want it off of your computer, follow the tips below.

Transferring Favorites

First things first, you will want to install your new browser. This is the one you will be using in place of Internet Explorer. After that, you will want to import your favorites from Internet Explorer into your new browser. When you have completed the transfer, you are ready to deactivate and uninstall Internet Explorer.

In your new browser, go into your Internet Settings via the three little dots in the righthand corner of your window.
Select the Settings option.
Click on Import Browser Data.
Identify the browser you are importing from.
Choose what you want to import.
Click on the Import button and finish.

Uninstalling Internet Explorer

Click on the Start Menu.
Select and open your Settings.
Click on the Apps option.
Under Apps and Features select Optional Features.
At the top of the list, you should see Internet Explorer listed.
Click on the Internet Explorer option.
Press the Uninstall Button.
Lastly, finish by restarting your computer.

Other Browsers to Use Instead of Internet Explorer

Included in this list are the most popular web browsers and alternatives to Internet Explorer.

AOL.com – AOL is also called America Online. They are known for purchasing Netscape and Time Warner.

Apple Safari – Safari was released in 2003. It is the default browser for all Apple devices.

Brave – Brave is free and open source. It is a web browser with added security and blocks website tracking.

Mozilla Firefox – Firefox is an open-source and free option for searching the web.

Google Chrome – Chrome is a browser developed by Google. It is one of the leading web browsers available.

Microsoft Edge – Edge is the latest web browser from Microsoft. Edge is the replacement browser for Internet Explorer. It comes with new features and an improved rendering engine.

Related: How to Print if You Don’t Have a Printer

Conclusion

In this computer age, we are always growing, adapting, and rushing toward new innovations. However, sometimes we get used to our older programs and we may be tempted to put off updating our system. Yet, for security purposes, it is always important to get regular updates and even upgrade to new components when necessary.

Since we are working from home now, either for ourselves or for an employer, it is vital that we have the most up-to-date technology. It’s so important to ensure that we have sufficient security features to protect proprietary company information.