Internet Explorer: All About Internet Explorer

Lesson 1: All About Internet Explorer

All about Internet Explorer

As of June 2022, Internet Explorer is set to be discontinued. Check out our free tutorial about web browsers and other internet basics.

Internet Explorer (IE) is one of the most popular web browsers in the world. We'd like to offer you a brief overview of the currently available versions of Internet Explorer and try to answer some questions you may have.

What is Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer is the default web browser for Windows computers and tablets using Windows 8.1 or earlier. However, Internet Explorer 11 will be the last version of IE. Starting with Windows 10, the default web browser is Microsoft Edge.

What version of Internet Explorer can I use on my computer?

This depends on which Windows operating system you're using:

If you're using Windows 10, the most recent version you can use is IE 11, but Microsoft Edge will be your default browser.
If you're using Windows 7 or 8.1, the most recent version you can use is IE 11.
If you're using Vista, the newest version for your computer is IE 9.
If you're using Windows XP, the most recent version you can use is IE 8.

IE 11 has two versions for Windows 8.1: one for the Start screen, and one for the Desktop. We'll talk about both in this tutorial.

How do I know which version of IE I have?

Navigate to Settings in your browser and select About Internet Explorer (or About in some versions of IE). You'll then be able to see the version number you're using.

Alternatively, navigate to this webpage while using Internet Explorer. This will tell you which version of IE you're using.

How do I get IE?

If you're using Windows, some version of IE comes pre-installed on your computer. If your computer automatically installs updates for Windows, new versions of IE will be installed as updates. Otherwise, you can download the most recent version of IE for your operating system directly from Microsoft.

If you have Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, IE 11 is already installed on your computer or tablet.
If you have Windows 8, you can get IE 11 by updating to Windows 8.1. To learn how, you can review the instructions here.
To download IE 11 for Windows 7, go here and follow the instructions.
To download IE 9, go here and follow the instructions.
To download IE 8, go here and follow the instructions.

How can I learn more about my version of IE?

If you're using IE 11, take a look at this lesson from our tutorial. For earlier versions of IE, review this lesson on IE 8.

Can I get Internet Explorer for my Mac?

No. Internet Explorer is only supported for Windows operating systems.

What happened to IE 10?

IE 10 was released for Windows 7 and Windows 8 in 2012. Unlike some older versions of IE, Microsoft has decided to phase out this version and replace it with IE 11. These two versions are basically the same, with some minor differences.

How do I open IE in Windows 10?

Even though Microsoft Edge is the default browser, you can still access IE 11. Simply click the Start button > All Apps > Windows Accessories > Internet Explorer.