You’ve installed Windows 10 and adapted to the many changes, but somehow you just can’t find yourself loving the new Edge browser. For some reason, you just want the old Internet Explorer to be your one and only gateway to the Internet. If you’re that adamant, here’s how you can find and bring back Internet Explorer in Windows 10.
Here’s a bit of good news for you: Internet Explorer never went away. The browser is still there in Windows 10. It is only hidden from view and acts as a backup for the new Microsoft Edge.
To open Internet Explorer, go to Start > All Apps > Windows Accessories. Left-click on Internet Explorer to open it. Or, right-click on it, and select Pin to Start (or Pin to Taskbar) for a much quicker way to open it later. Better yet, let Cortana launch it for you. Tell her to “launch Internet Explorer,” and you’ll have the browser up and running in no time.
But that’s not enough, is it? You want Internet Explorer to be your default browser in Windows 10, so that it automatically opens whenever your computer needs to access the Internet or load a Web page.
To set Internet Explorer as the default browser, go to the Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Your Default Programs. Wait for your computer to populate the list, and then select Internet Explorer. Click on Set This Program as Default, and then click OK.
At this point, Internet Explorer should launch when you open a file type or protocol that the browser supports. In some case, Microsoft Edge may still launch in lieu of Internet Explorer when you open a file. If it happens, right-click the file, select Open With in the context menu, and click Choose Another App. In the dialog box, select Internet Explorer, tick the Always Use This App to Open (*.*) Files checkbox, and click OK.
Internet Explorer still exists on Windows 10 machines mainly because of compatibility reasons. Microsoft Edge is a modern browser, and that means it doesn’t support some legacy Web technologies that Internet Explorer does. However, the old browser isn’t going to stay forever. Internet Explorer, with version 11 as its last version, will have mainstream support until January 8, 2018. Its extended support will last until January 10, 2023. Security updates will be applied from time to time, but don’t expect for new features.
