Why Microsoft Said Goodbye to IE: The End of a 27‑Year Browser Era

On May 16, Microsoft Edge announced on Weibo that the Internet Explorer (IE) browser will be officially retired on June 16, with its functionality handed over to Edge.

This marks the end of a browser born in 1995 and lasting 27 years.

IE’s success was closely tied to Windows 95, where it was the default browser, and Microsoft’s strategy of bundling it with the operating system helped it capture 49% market share within two years and peak at 95% in 2002‑2003.

However, over time, IE fell behind due to limited features, slow performance, and poor compatibility, while competitors like Firefox, Chrome, and Safari gained market share, dropping IE’s share below 20% by 2015.

Microsoft’s retirement plan includes stopping support for IE11 in Microsoft 365, Outlook, and other desktop apps from August 2021 and fully disabling the desktop application by June 2022.

To ease the transition, Edge will continue to offer an “IE mode” that supports legacy sites, ActiveX controls, and developer tools, allowing users to access old applications without reinstalling IE.

Industry experts note that the impact on ordinary users will be minimal, as Windows 10 LTSC will still support IE, and many enterprise and government sites can rely on Edge’s compatibility mode.

Despite the nostalgic sentiment expressed by users (“爷青结”), the shift reflects broader changes in how people access the web, with browsers losing their role as primary entry points to apps and services.

Sources: 21st Century Business Herald, Beijing Daily, Science & Technology Daily, Cover News, Sina Weibo.