How to Enable or Disable IE Mode in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft already phased out standalone Internet Explorer, but some enterprises still rely on legacy web applications and intranet sites that require Internet Explorer’s rendering engine. To allow older applications to function within Edge while companies transition to modern browser apps, Internet Explorer (IE) compatibility mode was introduced. This guide will teach you how to enable and disable IE mode in Edge on Windows 11. Keep reading to learn more.

Methods to enable or disable IE mode in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11

Administrators can configure IE mode in Microsoft Edge using several methods, depending on the intended scope, scale, and their technical control needs.

📌 Prerequisites:

• Windows 11
• Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)

💡 IE mode is intended for enterprise environments only and not recommended for general users. We recommend checking Things to look out for before proceeding.

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Method 1: Enable or disable IE mode via Microsoft Edge Settings (for manual testing use only)

This method offers a quick and accessible way to test IE mode manually in a single, isolated browser instance without affecting other machines.

📌 Use Case: Validating how sites behave in IE mode before configuring enterprise-wide deployment

📌 Prerequisite: Standard user permission

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) and select Settings.
3. On the left pane, click Default browser.
4. On the right pane, find “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode)” and then, choose the appropriate option from the drop-down menu beside it:
   • Default = Offers options to reload in IE mode, depending on recent IE usage
   • Allow = Enables users to reload pages in IE mode
   • Disabled = Prevents access to IE mode
5. Click the Restart button that appears, or restart Edge manually.

💡 Test IE mode by visiting a website on Edge, clicking the three-dot menu (⋯), and selecting Reload in Internet Explorer mode.

Method 2: Enable or disable IE mode via Group Policy (recommended for enterprises)

This centralized, policy-driven method is recommended for enabling or disabling IE Mode across managed Windows devices.

📌 Use Cases: Maintaining consistent control across organizations with Active Directory or centralized management

📌 Prerequisites:

• Windows 11 with Group Policy support (Pro, Enterprise, and Education)
• Microsoft Edge ADMX templates installed in the Group Policy Editor
• Network or local XML site list (optional)
• Administrator access to Group Policy Editor

1. Download and install the latest Microsoft Edge ADMX templates from Microsoft’s site.
2. Open the Group Policy Editor as Administrator.
3. On the left pane, follow this path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge

4. Double-click Configure Internet Explorer integration, select Enabled, then, under the Options section, choose:
   • Internet Explorer Mode = Enables IE rendering inside Edge
   • Internet Explorer 11 = Opens IE instead (not recommended)
   • None = Disables IE mode

Click OK.

5. Optional: Double-click Configure the Enterprise Mode Site List, select Enabled, and, under the Options section, type the URL or UNC path to your Site List XML file (e.g., URL: https://intranet.local/ie-mode.xml, UNC: \\network\Shared\sites.xml). Then, click OK.

💡 This allows administrators to control which websites should automatically open in IE mode.

6. Restart Microsoft Edge or the device to apply the changes.

Method 3: Enable or disable IE mode via Registry Editor

This method is a manual configuration alternative to Group Policy, which modifies the keys associated with Edge.

📌 Use Cases: Configuring IE mode in standalone machines and environments without GPO access, and testing before scripted deployments

📌 Prerequisites: Administrator privileges

⚠️ Back up the registry before proceeding.

1. Open the Registry Editor as Administrator.
2. On the left pane, follow this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

💡 If the Edge key doesn’t exist, create it.

3. On the right pane of the Edge key, double-click the InternetExplorerIntegrationLevel DWORD and change the Value data to:
   • 0 = Disable IE mode
   • 1 = Enabled IE mode
   • 2 = Launch IE standalone browser

💡 If the InternetExplorerIntegrationLevel DWORD doesn’t exist, create it.

4. Optional: On the right pane of the Edge key, double-click the InternetExplorerIntegrationSiteList REG_SZ and type the path or URL to your Site List XML under Value data.

💡 If the InternetExplorerIntegrationSiteList REG_SZ doesn’t exist, create it.

5. Restart Microsoft Edge or the device to apply the changes.

Method 4: Enable or disable IE mode via Windows Registry using PowerShell

This method automates the deployment of IE Mode registry settings across machines using scripting.

📌 Use Cases: Imaging tasks and integration into broader configuration management tools (SCCM, Intune, etc.)

📌 Prerequisites: Administrator privileges

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Copy and paste the appropriate command for the action you want to take before pressing Enter:
   • To enable IE mode with a specified site list:

New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Force

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "InternetExplorerIntegrationLevel" -Value 1

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "InternetExplorerIntegrationSiteList" -Value "XML"

💡Replace XML with the path or URL to your Site List XML.

• • To disable IE mode:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "InternetExplorerIntegrationLevel" -Value 0

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "InternetExplorerIntegrationSiteList" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

3. Restart Microsoft Edge or run gpupdate /force in PowerShell to apply the changes.

Method 5: Enable or disable IE mode via Windows Registry using a .reg file

This method allows admins to easily import predefined registry configurations to enable or disable IE Mode on a device.

📌 Use Cases: Configuring IE mode quickly for manual or semi-automated deployments

📌 Prerequisites: Administrator privileges

(A) Enable IE mode in Edge with a site list

1. Open Notepad and copy the following code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]

"InternetExplorerIntegrationLevel"=dword:00000001

"InternetExplorerIntegrationSiteList"="XML"

💡Replace XML with the path or URL to your Site List XML.

2. Save and name it with a .reg extension.
3. Locate and double-click the .reg file.
4. Confirm the User Access Control (UAC) prompt.
5. Restart Microsoft Edge or the device to apply the changes.

(B) Disable IE mode in Edge

1. Open Notepad and copy the following code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]

"InternetExplorerIntegrationLevel"=dword:00000000

2. Save and name it with a .reg extension.
3. Locate and double-click the .reg file.
4. Confirm the UAC prompt.
5. Restart Microsoft Edge or the device to apply the changes.

⚠️ Things to look out for

Why manage IE mode in Edge?

Internet Explorer has been officially retired, but IE Edge compatibility mode can help bridge the gap for businesses still dependent on legacy web technology. Here are a few reasons enterprises should actively manage and configure IE mode:

• Enable legacy web app compatibility during migration to modern platforms
• Centralize browser use by consolidating both modern and legacy content in Edge
• Reduce security risks by limiting IE Mode to trusted sites only
• Enforce enterprise-level browser behavior and deprecate standalone Internet Explorer

Additional considerations when managing IE mode in Microsoft Edge

Configuring MS Edge IE Mode provides a reliable way to maintain access to legacy applications. However, IT administrators must also plan around various implications to ensure deployments are effective and secure.

Enterprise Site List Manager

Use Microsoft’s Site List Manager tool to generate and manage the XML file. This will simplify long-term maintenance by allowing updates without modifying Group Policy or registry settings.

Lifecycle and deprecation planning

Organizations should actively modernize or replace legacy applications rather than indefinitely relying on IE Mode to avoid business disruptions when the feature is eventually deprecated.

Security considerations

IE Mode is less secure and less modern than Chromium, so organizations should only allow trusted internal URLs in the IE Mode site list. To further ensure security, consider blocking or restricting access to public-facing or unknown sites when in IE Mode.

Strategic use of IE mode in modern IT environments

Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge is crucial for enterprises transitioning from legacy web apps to modern browser platforms. By managing IE mode using the right methods, IT administrators can use this temporary measure while planning for long-term modernization. When implemented correctly, IE mode enables business continuity while future-proofing their browser strategy.

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