Microsoft has announced the retirement of its oldest browser, Internet Explorer after 27 years of service.

First released in 1995 as an add-on package for Windows 95, the browser was provided for free as part of the package Microsoft. As per the company notification,  Microsoft will officially withdraw its support for Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, placing it into permanent retirement. 

“We are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. 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. Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge,” as per the company release.

“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 release said.

Explaining the decision last year, Sean Lyndersay, partner group program manager for Microsoft Edge, wrote: ‘Over the last year, you may have noticed our movement away from Internet Explorer (IE) support, such as an announcement of the end of IE support Microsoft 365 online services. 

‘Today, we are at the next stage of that journey: we are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. 

‘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.’ 

Mr Lyndersay added: ‘Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge.

‘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.’