How do I stop Edge from taking over Internet Explorer?

Question

I am working on a website and I need to test it in a real Internet Explorer. I have a Windows 10 computer with both Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge installed. When I open Internet Explorer, it switches over to Edge.

Initially, it would at least keep the Internet Explorer open. It would put some Microsoft.com help article into the tab instead of the website I requested, and it would open the website in Edge. Now it opens IE for a second and then forcibly closes it, then opens Edge.

What I tried

• First, I followed the advice in this video to set "Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge" to "Never" (mine was actually called "Do Not Allow").

  That didn't help. Moreover, after the above, my IE is no longer staying open as the redirect happens

• Tried creating RedirectSitesFromInternetExplorerRedirectMode in both HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

Versions

• Edge: 111.0.1661.41
• Windows 10 Pro: 21H2 19044.2604
• Windows Feature Experience Pack: 120.2212.4190.0

UPD

Someone in the comments asked "I wonder why would you use an obsolete browser" and here's one example someone posted in the answers, I will copy it here in case the answer gets deleted.

This is one answer to the “Why use an obsolete browser like IE”. I am a HVAC Mechanic contractor service tech. There is a lot of “stand alone” HVAC equipment. To work on it we change our laptop settings to a static IP and connect local with an Ethernet cable and browser. This older equipment uses JAVA. None of the JAVA emulators have worked for me. Since it is not connected to the outside world there is no perceived risk from IE. Usable life span is measured in decades, so it will be around for the foreseeable future. Manufacturers stop any substantial updates after field proven reliability.

PS if anyone has any ideas…: I am trying to connect to a Mitsubishi Citymulti GB-50 to see setup information (not stuff you can see with their Maintenance Tool program and interface tool). Will probably scrounge through my pile of tech junk and put together a Win 7 laptop that I won’t use on line.

Answer 1

Disclaimer: you should not use IE for any other reason than historic research!

You can create vbs file with the following context (change very-old-site.example.com to your address)

Set objIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
objIE.Navigate "very-old-site.example.com"
objIE.Visible = 1

When you run this file windows will open IE with URL, specified in vbs file. No additional steps required.

Checked on Windows 10 22H2, Edge 110.0.1587.69

Checked on Windows 10 22H2, Edge 120.0.2210.89 for any new Edge updates.

Answer 2

To prevent Edge from hijacking Internet Explorer, you will need to deactivate the Internet Explorer plugin that is forcefully installed by Edge. To do that, please follow the below instructions with administrative privileges:

1. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\<a.b.c.d version> directory
2. Locate a subfolder named BHO
3. Rename the BHO subfolder to BHO.bak

Now, when you start Internet Explorer (IExplore.exe) it will not be overtaken by Edge.

Please note that this is a hack which should not be used for anything real except testing or playing with historical artifacts.

Answer 3

You can just rename these files to disabled.

close iexplore and re-open

Answer 4

Search for "Internet Options" or open it from Control Panel.
There, in the "Advanced" tab, disable option Enable third-party browser extensions.

I am not sure what else does it disable, but so far it looks promising on my machine.

Answer 5

When you open a website in Edge IE Mode it actually uses Internet Explorer in the background (you will see iexplore.exe in the task list) so most IE-specific pages will work in IE Mode. Sometimes all that's needed to get an old page working in IE Mode is to set the Compatibility view (which indeed can be set for Edge IE Mode).

However, some people have reported that they cannot get Edge IE mode to work with their old camera, security system, company website, etc. I can't confirm those claims, but there are many possible variables, including plugins.

Another reason to use an Internet Explorer launcher, instead of Edge IE Mode, is to avoid the 30 day timeout on IE Mode pages (or avoid applying workarounds, such as IEModeExpiryFix).

To run IE directly, as already noted, it can be done easily with a simple script. But a launcher Exe, such as LaunchIE is simpler and slicker, especially when it comes to making shortcuts.

Answer 6

Just delete the 3 programs in the BHO folder. Send the BHO folder to the desk top (create shortcut) with a right mouse click . Check the BHO folder before using IE if the short cut is invalid you got an Edge update repeat step 1 .