Skip to main content

Microsoft to axe Internet Explorer

We’ve known for months now that Microsoft was working on a new browser currently named Project Spartan for Windows 10, but it always appeared as though the company planned to keep Internet Explorer front and center. But the negative connotations with the name were just too much — Microsoft is finally giving up on IE.

Many Windows users associate Internet Explorer with terrible performance and badly rendered websites, but that hasn’t actually been the case for a long time. The most recent iterations of the browser have worked well enough, yet the legacy of the monstrosity that was Internet Explorer 6 loomed large over them. Even Microsoft took shots at the browser in ads for later versions, but that wasn’t enough to remove the stigma.

Recommended Videos

At yesterday’s Microsoft Convergence event, Microsoft’s marketing head Chris Capossela said that the company is focusing on Project Spartan moving forward, and according to The Verge’s Tom Warren, it is looking into renaming its new browser. While we knew that Spartan would be included in Windows 10, it wasn’t clear if it would be the operating system’s default browser, and if it was, whether it would eventually carry the Internet Explorer name.

It’s not quite the end of the line for IE, however. When contacted for a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said “Project Spartan is Microsoft’s next generation browser, built just for Windows 10. We will continue to make Internet Explorer available with Windows 10 for enterprises and other customers who require legacy browser support.” And while Spartan won’t be released under the Internet Explorer banner, Microsoft isn’t yet sure what it will be named. It is likely, however, that the company’s name will be part of the branding. “Just by putting the Microsoft name in front of it, the delta for Chrome users on appeal is incredibly high,” Capossela said.

Project Spartan is shaping up to be a promising browser, offering a cleaner look and features like Cortana integration. Without the burden of the Internet Explorer name, maybe users will even give it a try.

Meanwhile, the Explorer team has been on a bug hunt of late, patching over 40 IE vulnerabilities in a mid-February update, including one that was disclosed prior to the big patch day, to ensure that we stay safe while the company makes the transition. Keep your fingers crossed: Windows 10 is gonna be a fun ride.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
5 OneNote for Windows 10 replacements worth using in 2025
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

In an update to its support document, Microsoft plans to reduce the performance of its legacy OneNote app in an attempt to encourage users to use the Windows 11 OneNote app. Windows Latest first spotted the support document, which mentions how Microsoft is transferring features from the legacy (OneNote for Windows 10) app to the latest version.

Microsoft has removed the older version of OneNote from the Microsoft Store, but the software giant promised that the legacy app would not be replaced. You will still have complete control over the app, and Microsoft will not force you to switch. However, the Windows 10 end-of-support date is approaching, and as a result, the OneNote syncing will get slower.

Read more
Microsoft warns users Windows 10 support ends soon, these are your options
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

Many were hoping that Windows 10 might still get another lease on life, but alas -- that doesn't seem to be the case. Microsoft has just started sending out emails to users who are still running Windows 10, and those emails make it quite clear that the end-of-life (EOL) period of the beloved operating system is coming to an end. Microsoft's advice? Upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP.

Windows Latest received an email from Microsoft, titled: "End of support for Windows -- what you need to know." This message was likely sent out to many more users, and may keep popping into people's mailboxes as Microsoft keeps rolling out the alert.

Read more
Microsoft might make your PC specs easier to understand
A command in the Command Prompt in Windows 11.

Microsoft released another preview build of Windows 11 this week, and someone has noticed an interesting addition to the system settings. There is now a FAQ section beneath the device specifications list, providing handy information about the practical impacts of your specs.

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lld3hsasiketetu767uagr6m/post/3lkmdy5p35s2g?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.theverge.com%252Fnews%252F632327%252Fmicrosoft-windows-11-system-device-specs-recommendations

Read more