How to prevent Internet Explorer from opening Edge

If you’re using Windows 10 and find that Internet Explorer is redirecting you to Microsoft Edge for certain websites, follow these steps to prevent it:

Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your Windows machine.
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots) at the top right and select Settings from the list.
- Alternatively, you can directly open the default browser page by entering edge://settings/defaultBrowser in the address bar and pressing Enter.
In the Settings menu, click on the Default Browser option in the left panel.
Click the dropdown button next to the “Allow Internet Explorer to open sites in Microsoft Edge” option.
- Select the option “Never” from the dropdown menu.
That’s all! Now you can open Internet Explorer and browse websites without redirection.

You can also choose the “Always” or “Only incompatible sites” option based on your needs.

Why Does Internet Explorer Start Microsoft Edge Automatically?

Internet Explorer sometimes launches Microsoft Edge automatically due to its lack of support for modern web technologies. Websites like Facebook and Instagram may not function properly in Internet Explorer. If a website is not compatible with Internet Explorer, it will open in the Edge browser instead.

For this redirection task, Edge adds an “IEToEdge BHO” plugin to IE, which cannot be disabled to prevent this feature.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Prevent Internet Explorer from Opening Edge

Can I use Internet Explorer on Windows 11 and 10?

You can use Internet Explorer on Windows 10. Windows 11 removes IE, but you can use IE mode in the Edge browser.

Can I disable the IEToEdge BHO plugin from IE?

No, you cannot disable the IEToEdge BHO plugin because it’s enabled by default and Microsoft does not provide an option to disable it.

Can I use IE mode in Edge?

Yes, you can use IE mode in Edge. This mode is useful when a web page requires compatibility with Internet Explorer.

Last Words

Now you know how to prevent Internet Explorer from automatically opening the Edge browser. Keep in mind that IE redirects to Edge only for unsupported sites, as modern web technologies are not compatible with IE.

While you can’t disable the “IEToEdge BHO” plugin in IE, Edge provides an option for this. Microsoft also offers settings to customize this behavior.

Although IE will be retired soon, the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser is the recommended choice. However, if you need to open websites in Internet Explorer, this guide can assist you.