How to Turn On or Off Internet Explorer in Windows 10
Internet Explorer 11 is still included in Windows 10 along with Microsoft Edge. You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer since Internet Explorer is a Windows feature, but you can turn it on and off.
If Internet Explorer is turned off, it's not available for use by any users on the PC and can't be launched for any reason, even if no other browser is available on the system. The program files to launch and use Internet Explorer are removed to a separate storage location as a backup copy so that a user can turn Internet Explorer back on.
When Internet Explorer is turned off using Windows Features, Internet Explorer is only hidden so that there is minimal impact on third-party programs (and other parts of Windows itself) that call upon Internet Explorer app services, because the Internet Explorer files that provide functionality to third parties and other parts of Windows are left intact.
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to turn on or off IE11.
Contents
- Option One: To Turn Off (uninstall) Internet Explorer 11 in Windows Features
- Option Two: To Turn On (install) Internet Explorer 11 in Windows Features
- Option Three: To Turn Off (uninstall) Internet Explorer 11 in PowerShell
- Option Four: To Turn On (install) Internet Explorer 11 in PowerShell
OPTION ONETo Turn Off (uninstall) Internet Explorer 11 in Windows Features
1 Open Windows Features.
2 Click/tap on the checked box of Internet Explorer 11 to uncheck it, and click/tap on Yes when prompted to confirm. (see screenshots below)
3 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
4 Windows will now apply the changes. (see screenshots below)
5 Click/tap on Restart now to finish turning off Internet Explorer 11. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWOTo Turn On (install) Internet Explorer 11 in Windows Features
This is the default setting.
1 Open Windows Features.
2 Check the Internet Explorer 11 box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
3 Windows will now apply the changes. (see screenshots below)
4 Click/tap on Restart now to finish turning on Internet Explorer 11. (see screenshot below)
OPTION THREETo Turn Off (uninstall) Internet Explorer 11 in PowerShell
1 Open an elevated PowerShell.
2 Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -Online
3 When prompted to restart the computer to apply, type Y, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
OPTION FOURTo Turn On (install) Internet Explorer 11 in PowerShell
This is the default setting.
1 Open an elevated PowerShell.
2 Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature –FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -All -Online
4 When prompted to restart the computer to apply, type Y, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn