MICROSOFT has told enterprise IT administrators that Microsoft Edge will continue supporting IE mode until the end of 2029, after which the legacy feature will be discontinued. The warning was issued through a Microsoft 365 Message Centre notification and is described as a reminder of Microsoft’s existing retirement plans, rather than a new change to the timetable.
IE mode allows Edge to use Internet Explorer’s Trident engine to run older websites and business applications that depend on legacy browser technology. Although standalone Internet Explorer has been removed from Windows 10 and Windows 11, some organisations still rely on these applications for daily operations. Once IE mode ends, affected sites and software may no longer function or be accessible through Edge.
The report advises organisations to identify systems that still require IE mode and assess whether each should be updated, rehosted, replaced or rebuilt using modern web technologies. Microsoft’s App Assure programme is cited as a source of free support for eligible customers facing compatibility problems. The article also suggests that organisations could use AI-assisted coding tools during modernisation, although it provides no specific evidence or implementation guidance for that approach.