It’s time to bid adieu to the browser that has been infamous for its speed yet remembered and used by the netizens for the longest period of time. Microsoft has announced publicly about Internet explorer shutting down on June 15th 2022. 

In 1995, Internet Explorer was released as a Windows 95 add-on package. Later, Microsoft began including the app as part of the package for free.

In 2003, the nearly three-decade-old browser reached a peak of 95% usage. However, as other competitors released new browsers with better user interfaces, faster internet speeds, and smoother performance, IE could not maintain its position, and its user base began to decline dramatically.

Several new browser competitors entered the market, offering improved user interfaces, faster internet speeds, and smoother performance. It appeared that Internet Explorer would be unable to keep up with the competition. Over time, Internet Explorer became a default browser for installing other browsers. 

“Since Microsoft Edge is capable of handling this and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and support will end on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10,” the company said in a statement.

Anyone who used computers at home, in schools, or at work in the 1990s and early 2000s will remember Internet Explorer fondly. For millions of people all over the world, the browser was the first point of access to the internet.

It was also the only way to use the widely used browsers that we are all familiar with today. The news of the Internet Explorer’s demise has gone viral, and netizens have responded by creating amusing memes that are both funny and sad in equal measure.

Although, this opportunity has opened doors for Microsoft Edge i.e The future of Internet Explorer for Windows 10. “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,” says Sean Lyndersay, Program Manager, in a Microsoft blog post from May 2021.

“Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, safer, and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer,” he continued, “but it also addresses a critical concern: compatibility with older, legacy websites and applications.”

The company’s blog post also mentions where to look for the Edge browser. “The good news is that you most likely already have it (Edge) installed on your device. Use the Windows 10 search box to look for ‘Microsoft Edge,’ or look for the icon. If you don’t already have it, you can get it here.” It also stated that “it’s easy to bring over your passwords, favourites, and other browsing data from Internet Explorer in a few clicks” once a user switches to Edge.

Are you going to miss Microsoft Internet Explorer? Let us know in the comments below.