Internet Explorer Retires Soon. Are You Ready?

The Internet Explorer 11 desktop app is retiring on June 15, 2022. If you and/or your clients use IE 11, are you ready for the transition to Microsoft Edge? If not, don't stress! Microsoft has a solution so you can continue using Internet Explorer-based websites and apps and this article will answer your questions, provide valuable links, and help you with the transition.

First and foremost, keep in mind that there are many reasons to transition to Edge, even for Chrome users. In fact, this article explains why Chrome users should transition to Edge. And with the retirement of Internet Explorer, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Edge is the browser of choice.

Even though you should move to Edge, you may actually need to make the transition so you are able to keep conducting business. Here are some common questions and answers.

How will Internet Explorer users be able to access their IE-based websites and apps?

As Microsoft says on their site, "IE lives on in Microsoft Edge."

When Internet Explorer 11 is retired in June, you can still use Microsoft Edge in Internet Explorer mode to access IE-based websites and apps. Microsoft Edge is the only browser with built-in, backward compatibility for legacy sites and apps. As an Internet Explorer user, you will simply install Edge with Internet Explorer mode to leverage this dual-engine advantage. 

You may be concerned about your use of QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Microsoft Edge is already one of the supported browsers for QBO, so users can simply transition to Edge with no issues. Although Internet Explorer is currently the default browser for QBD, users will simply install Edge with Internet Explorer mode to continue using QBD.

What are the specific advantages of using Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode? 

Beyond the obvious "advantage" that you simply won't be able to use the Internet Explorer browser any longer, there are additional benefits. Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer mode lets you

1. keep using your IE-based sites and apps, 

2. get more frequent security and feature updates, and 

3. streamline productivity through the ability to use only one browser across all operations. 

When should you transition from IE to Edge with IE mode? 

Although the transition for your business needs to be completed before June 15th, it is time to start planning the transition now. Depending on the size of your practice (or your clients' businesses), the planning process will take more time than you expect. 

Although you will need to define the transition timeline for your own practice (and to help your clients define it for their own businesses), you should most likely start this project immediately after tax season.

What steps do you need to take to transition from IE to Edge with IE mode? 

Microsoft created a 14-page informational guide Microsoft Edge + Internet Explorer mode Getting Started Guide and a full Microsoft Edge Customer Adoption Kit to help businesses with the transition.

The Getting Started Guide includes information on transition and timeline, planning for deployment, and setting up Internet Explorer mode for your organization. This guide actually provides instructions for the entire transaction project.  

The Customer Adoption Kit provides materials to use for yourself and with your team starting with the retirement of Internet Explorer and the need for the transition to Edge with IE mode through the actual deployment of Edge with IE mode. The kit even includes materials to help with information about customizing the Edge experience, being more productive with Edge, and setting up profiles.  

This broad-stroke timeline may help with the transition for you (and your clients).

Step 1: Review the Getting Started Guide & Customer Adoption Kit no later than April 22nd.

Step 2:Define due dates for the three phases of the transition (p. 4 of Getting Started) no later than April 29th. 

Step 3: Complete steps 1-6 (p. 5) in the Getting Started Guide no later than May 20th. Pages 6-10 in the Getting Started Guide will help complete the steps. 

Step 4: Complete steps 7-8 (p. 5) in the Getting Started Guide no later than May 27th.

Step 5: Start steps 9-10 (p. 5) no later than the week of May 30th.

Do you have more questions? 

Please feel free to ask questions. At The Woodard Report, we rely on Microsoft experts at Woodard Consulting Group and at Pax8. We are happy to find the answers for you!