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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For a quick check of legacy behavior, open the site in Microsoft Edge’s IE mode. To test a genuinely old standalone Internet Explorer release, use a hosted service that currently offers that version or a suitable archived environment; Edge IE mode is not a substitute for every historical IE release. Microsoft says Internet Explorer support ended on June 15, 2022, for certain Windows 10 versions, and recommends IE mode for sites that still need Internet Explorer behavior: Microsoft Support.
Choose the right kind of Internet Explorer test
“Old Internet Explorer” can mean two different things: a site rendered in IE mode in current Edge, or a standalone older IE release such as IE 8 or IE 6. Microsoft describes IE mode as using the IE11 MSHTML engine for legacy content while Chromium handles modern content. It lets you check IE-compatible behavior within Edge; it does not launch each historical IE version. See Microsoft’s IE mode overview.
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Before choosing a method, identify the browser behavior your users depend on: a specific document mode, a particular legacy interaction, or a standalone IE version. Also note the target operating system and the critical user journeys to test. The distinction determines whether a local IE-mode check is sufficient or whether you need a real old-version environment.
1. Reload the site in Microsoft Edge IE mode
For a fast local check, use Edge’s option to reload a site in Internet Explorer mode. Microsoft’s instructions and available controls can vary by Edge version and by whether an organization manages the device. For non-enterprise users on Edge version 141 or later, Microsoft documents adding a site at Settings > Default Browser > Internet Explorer mode pages; consult the current IE mode instructions for the applicable steps.
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This is useful for checking basic rendering and behavior against the IE11 engine in IE mode. It cannot establish how the site behaves in a separate IE 6, IE 8, or other historical browser installation. If the option is unavailable or a site will not stay in IE mode, device policy or Edge version may be relevant; on a managed device, ask the administrator about the organization’s configuration.
2. Configure an Enterprise Mode Site List for managed sites
Organizations that must keep specific internal or business sites opening in IE mode can manage that behavior with an Enterprise Mode Site List. This is more reliable for an organization-wide workflow than asking each user to reload a site manually, but it depends on administrative configuration and applicable policy.
Confirm the organization’s Edge management policy and deployment process before changing the list. Microsoft links to the relevant administration guidance from its IE mode support material. A site-list configuration still tests IE mode in Edge—not a collection of independently installed historical IE releases.
3. Automate IE mode checks with Selenium and Internet Explorer Driver
For repeatable browser checks, Microsoft documents an IE mode automation workflow using Microsoft Edge, Selenium 4 or later, and Internet Explorer Driver 4.0.0.0 or later. Follow the setup and configuration in Microsoft’s IE mode testing guide.
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This approach can run scripted checks against IE mode, making it useful for critical flows that need repeated verification. Keep the test description precise: it exercises IE mode in Edge, not a standalone installation of an older IE release. Automation also requires the documented components and a configured test environment; it is not simply a command that makes every legacy browser available.
4. Run BrowserStack’s Selenium IE mode workflow
If a hosted automation environment fits your setup, BrowserStack documents a Selenium workflow for IE mode. Its documentation specifies the required capabilities and version requirements; use the current BrowserStack IE mode instructions rather than assuming that any generic Selenium session will enter IE mode automatically.
This option separates the test from a developer’s local machine and can suit teams already using hosted browser automation. It remains an IE mode test, so it does not answer whether a standalone IE 7 or IE 9 installation behaves correctly.
5. Use a hosted standalone IE installation when the version matters
BrowserStack advertises access to real Internet Explorer installations from IE 6 through IE 11 on its Internet Explorer testing page. That is a vendor claim, and the currently available browser and operating-system combinations may change. Check the live catalog before building a test plan around a specific IE version or OS.
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This is the most directly relevant route when a requirement names a standalone historical release rather than IE mode. Record the exact browser version and operating system used for each result, and verify that the selected service environment actually supplies the combination you need.
6. Check another cloud provider’s current IE catalog first
Cloud testing providers can be useful for teams that need remote browser environments, but a provider’s Edge coverage does not prove that it offers Internet Explorer. LambdaTest’s surfaced page describes cloud browser testing for Microsoft Edge; it does not confirm IE support. Check its current browser-testing information and catalog before treating it as an option for a specific IE release.
Use a second provider only when its current catalog explicitly lists the required IE version and operating system. If it lists Edge alone, it may help with a modern Edge check, but it does not fulfill a standalone IE test requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. Inspect IE mode tabs with IEChooser and test real interactions
A page that looks correct on initial load can still fail when a user submits a form, opens a menu, follows a link, or encounters an error. Microsoft points to IEChooser for debugging IE mode tabs and documents troubleshooting topics such as legacy TLS settings in its IE mode troubleshooting FAQ.
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Use the debugging tools to investigate the IE-mode tab when a specific interaction fails, rather than treating a successful landing-page render as proof of compatibility. Test the flows that matter to your site, such as signing in, searching, submitting a form, downloading a file, or navigating between pages.
8. Keep a small, explicit regression matrix
A compact matrix makes results interpretable: each check should state whether it uses IE mode or a standalone IE version, the required document mode, the operating system, and the critical flow exercised. This is a practical way to keep different kinds of evidence from being confused; Microsoft’s engine description and automation guidance distinguish IE mode from other browser environments.
| Record for each test | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Environment type: Edge IE mode or standalone IE | Separates an IE11-engine compatibility check from a historical browser installation. |
| Browser version and operating system | Makes a result traceable to the environment actually tested; hosted service catalogs can change. |
| Required document mode | States which legacy rendering behavior the site is expected to use. |
| Critical flow and observed result | Shows whether meaningful site behavior works, not just whether the first page appears. |
Run the matrix against the audience’s actual requirements rather than trying to test every possible combination. A result from IE mode should never be reported as proof of support for a standalone old IE version.
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