Launching Internet Explorer in Windows 11.
Posted by JustCallMeBigD@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Microsoft would have us believing that Internet Explorer is no longer available to use in Windows 11. Surprise; they're lying.
I have some infrastructure equipment and an NVR whose web GUIs require Internet Explorer to function properly. They do not work correctly in Edge's 'IE Mode' though.
I've found a workaround to spawn Internet Explorer through mRemoteNG by logging in to one of the systems using the 'Internet Explorer' page renderer, then right-clicking a link and selecting 'Open in new window.' This opens Internet Explorer proper, and everything works as expected.
Even after opening it however, Windows 11 won't allow me to pin it to Start or taskbar, and trying to call it from Run or directly opening the executable just launches Edge instead.
Anyone know a trick to reenable direct access to Internet Explorer? I'm assuming something in the registry, but wanted to ask if anyone knew a trick before I spend too much time diving into the issue.
Please help me regain some sanity. 🙏
Remarkable_Cap227@reddit
You can do this
Start->search->internet options->programs->manage add ons->learn more about add ons
Boom it opens internet explorer.
DarioDaftrio2012@reddit
yeah so they patched it
when i try to do that it goes on my default browser instead of internet explorer
which sucks
Remarkable_Cap227@reddit
Idk i checked it it still works for me.
WWGHIAFTC@reddit
How old are those NVRs? Explorer ending was no surprise...
alarmologist@reddit
Shipping with already EoL dependencies is SOP in the security industry.
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
This. To further drive the point home, I installed the latest firmware available on the NVRs during my initial install. At the time, the firmware was only about 6 months old.
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
~18 months
Sai_Wolf@reddit
If you have the proper licensing, you can grab Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC, which have IE enabled by default.
GrahamWharton@reddit
Edge has an internet explorer mode. Works for me on some software from 2010 that requires ie11. You can even supply Edge a list of URLs that auto open in IE mode, set by group policy.
siedenburg2@reddit
Perhaps it's time to consider a change of EOL hw instead of using EOL software, there are some nice business options like synology that aren't that expensive and offer way more.
An other option would be a w7 vm with IE, some day ms will disable ie.
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
I have two switches that require Internet Explorer. They are slated for replacement, but that's not in my budget right now.
The NVR is new. It works alright in Chrome/Edge, but the local recording from the web interface is unavailable and I can't view more than 4 cameras at a time. IE Mode enables all the features of the web GUI but the local recording/capture still doesn't work. That only works in real Internet Explorer or by direct export from the device. Problem is, two of them are at satellite locations and I can't access them easily.
nick988@reddit
What brand NVR? They all have software that you can install to avoid this.
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
GeoVision
nick988@reddit
https://www.geovision.com.tw/product/GV-VMS%20V17
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
That's surveillance software to set up an NVR server. We had ExacqVision previously that left a bad taste in the principals' mouths. The main requirement for the replacement system, and the systems to be deployed to our satellites, was a stand-alone appliance that didn't rely on underlying infrastructure.
regular_guy_77@reddit
We had a similar issue with our NVR's and security cameras connected to them. I have been using this Chrome extension for a couple of years now as replacing our NVRs and cameras is "not in the budget". . https://www.ietab.net/
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
I used IEtab back in the day. Was awesome until it became a paid extension. Literally not worth paying for when you only need it for 3 things and Internet Explorer works perfectly fine.
TheLightingGuy@reddit
ietab is quite amazing. It's a step up from IE Mode in edge.
brink668@reddit
IEMODE exists in MS Edge
al1k@reddit
Two ways to launch IE in win11:
iexplore.exe 1 -Embedding
CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application").Visible=true
Both work in 23h2, can't test in 24h2
liverwurst_man@reddit
Spin up a W7 VM?
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
I would, but WSL broke hardware acceleration in L2 hypervisors on my system, and running a VM would be painfully slow.
MeanE@reddit
I can't test this right at the moment if it still works but...
If you create a shortcut with the following in the target/location, you can open it on-demand with a single double-click.
%systemroot%\System32\conhost.exe powershell.exe -noprofile -executionpolicy bypass -windowstyle hidden -command "(new-object -com internetexplorer.application).visible=$true"
JustCallMeBigD@reddit (OP)
Genius! Thank you!
555-Rally@reddit
Worked on mine, not OP but I've had a use case for this for a while. Thank you.
Commercial_Growth343@reddit
Just an idea, which I appreciate might cost more money, but you could use a Server OS. Windows 2019 and 2022 for example still have native Internet Explorer. I am not sure about 2025 as I have not tried that one yet. If that was an RDS server, then your users that need it could access it like that.