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14th Jun 2022

After all this time, Internet Explorer has finally been killed off aged 27

Kieran Galpin

Rumours are the browser will show an error message when they attempt to turn it off.

It’s a sad day for nostalgia as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is set to be killed off after 27 years of outstanding service.

Having debuted in 1995 as the built-in browser for Windows 95, Internet Explorer was, for a time at least, the only browser people turned to while on the web.

Internet Explorer (IE) has not received an update since 2013 and has been largely irrelevant since the introduction of Microsoft’s Edge browser. That being said, did anyone really use IE once there were other options?

“The Internet Explorer (IE) 11 desktop application will end support for Windows 10 semi-annual channel starting June 15, 2022,” explains Microsoft.

Internet Explorer has been trending on Twitter throughout the day, and many have shared their condolences.

“Internet Explorer to be finally shut down by Microsoft after 27 years. Thank you for helping us download other web browsers,” wrote one user.

Another said: “Seems it’s lagging a bit, I clicked “close” 26 years ago.”

A third commented: “Anybody who thinks IE11 is actually dead tomorrow:

“Get a job in SMB or large enterprise IT and/or, Poke in Windows internals tomorrow and see how dead it isn’t.

“Internet Explorer is dead. Long live Internet Explorer.”

According to Backlinko, in 2004, IE controlled over 94.04 per cent of all web browser use, which dropped to 49.93 per cent in 2010. Twelve years later and IE users only account for 1 per cent.

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