Disable and enable Internet Explorer on Windows

Article
03/09/2022

Warning

The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

This article describes how to disable and enable any supported version of Internet Explorer on Windows.

Applies to: Windows
Original KB number: 4013567

More information

Use one of the following methods to disable or enable Internet Explorer.

If you remove Internet Explorer by using DISM, the iexplore.exe entry point is removed from the file system, but its rendering engine, some folders, and registry keys remain on the system. Therefore, you should continue to install security updates that apply to Internet Explorer even after you disable it, as applicable.

To restore the program on your computer, we recommend that you use the same method that you used to disable it (Control Panel or DISM).

Method 1 - Using Optional features in Control Panel (client systems only)

Applies to: Windows 10, version 1703 and later versions

We recommend that you use the Optional features method if available on your devices.

On client systems, follow these steps to disable internet explorer by using Optional Features in Control Panel:

Select Start > Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Optional features.
In the list of installed features, find Internet Explorer 11, select it, and then select Uninstall.
Restart the computer when prompted to reboot.

To enable Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

Select Start > Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Optional features.
Select Add a feature.
Select Internet Explorer 11.
Select Install (1).
Restart the computer when prompted to reboot.

Method 2 - Using Optional features with DISM (client and server systems)

Applies to: Windows 10, version 1703 and later versions

We recommend that you use the Optional features method if available on your devices.

On client and server systems, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool to disable Internet Explorer.

Method 3 - Using Windows Features in Control Panel (client systems only)

On client systems, follow these steps to disable Internet Explorer by using Windows Features in Control Panel:

Select Windows logo key+R.
In the Run, enter OptionalFeatures.exe, and then select OK.
In the Windows Features dialog box, clear the checkbox for the installed version of Internet Explorer. For example, find Internet Explorer 11 and then clear its checkbox.
Select OK.
Restart the computer.

Method 4 - Using Windows Features with DISM (client and server systems)

On client and server systems, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool to disable Internet Explorer.

For example, follow these steps for Internet Explorer 11:

Disable the feature

Run the following command at an elevated command prompt to disable Internet Explorer 11: dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64.

The following message appears:

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 6.1.7600.16385 Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385 Disabling feature(s) [===================100.0%===================] The operation completed successfully. Restart Windows to complete this operation. Do you want to restart the computer now (Y/N)?

Note

Restart the computer when prompted to reboot.

Enable the feature

Run the following command at an elevated command prompt to re-enable Internet Explorer 11: dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64.