How to remove IE 11 from Windows 7. Complete removal of Internet explorer
For some, the little blue letter on the taskbar - the Internet Explorer browser icon - is a treasured entrance to the global network. I clicked on it, and here is a search engine, and here are my favorite sites. There is no need to connect or install anything. Beauty and convenience, so to speak, by default.
Well, for some, this same object, that is, IE, is a reason for jokes and the creation of memes, a “stumbling block” in the process of laying out web pages, and, let’s be honest, a source of user irritation.
So, the last group of comrades, who are extremely indignant, are trying to remove Internet Explorer from Windows. And doubts about the success of this enterprise do not always stop them. Those endowed with experience, of course, succeed in implementing their plans. But beginners, having spent a fair amount of time near the computer, again see a browser on the display, which, in fact, in their opinion, should not be there. And again they ask themselves a rhetorical question: “Is it possible to remove it altogether, in principle?!”
Why isn't IE uninstalled?
To remove Internet Explorer in Windows 7, 8 or the old XP, you need to use special software mechanisms. Regular removal via uninstaller activation will not help here. And, even more so, throwing files into the trash will not help (if you drag the folder where the browser is located to its shortcut on the desktop).
Why is that? It's very simple - IE is integrated (built-in) into the Windows operating system. It is an integral part of it, like other accompanying applications (Notepad, Calculator, Player, etc.) It cannot be completely removed (in the usual sense of this standard procedure). But it is quite possible to disable it, remove it from the user’s field of view. It will look in the depths of the computer, figuratively speaking, like a kind of “de-energized module”.
How to disable IE?
1. Click the “Start” shortcut. From the menu bar, select Control Panel.
2. Go to the “Uninstall a program” options window (in the “Programs” submenu).
3. In the vertical list of functions located on the left, open the “Turn features on or off...” setting.
4. In the list of components, uncheck the box next to “Internet Explorer” (uncheck it with a mouse click).
5. Confirm activation of the function in the “Windows Components” window: click the “Yes” button.
6. Wait until the settings are changed. Click OK.
7. Reboot the OS.
That's all. Now, no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to use IE. It is deactivated.
Internet Explorer Recovery
And if suddenly for some reason you need to restore the deleted IE, follow the instructions above again, but in step No. 4, instead of disconnecting, connect (check the box).
How to remove IE updates (new version)?
It also happens that the user is faced with a more complicated question: “How to remove the new version of Internet Explorer and return the previous version?” For example, remove IE10 and restore IE9.
Fortunately, it can be solved quite easily. To opt out of the update, follow this procedure:
1. Go to “Control Panel” via “Start”.
2. Go to the “Uninstall a program” options window.
3. In the menu (on the left side of the window), click “View installed updates.” Wait a moment: the OS will download and display the list.
4. Find the IE item among the updates (for example, Internet Explorer 11).
5. Left-click on it. Click "Delete" (function in the top panel).
6. Restart Windows.
If all steps of the uninstall procedure are completed correctly, the previous version of IE will be activated again.
Special solution for Internet Explorer 9
If you are unable to remove the ninth version of the browser, follow the instructions below:
1. Open the page in your browser - support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/kb/2579295 (official Microsoft technical support).
2. Select one of the three proposed solutions to fix the problem and act:
- Fix it wizard (you need to run a special program that automatically disables IE);
- executing a command in CMD (entering a shutdown directive on the command line);
- system recovery (Windows is rolled back to a restore point before OS updates are performed, including IE).
To search for solutions in relation to other versions of the browser (8, 10 and 11), use the “Search for information” field on the technical support site: enter a request and press “Enter”.
Internet Explorer is a web browser that Microsoft integrates into all of its operating systems. Users treat it differently. Some prefer to use this browser, others immediately install another one. For Windows 8, there is a version that has its own characteristics and is designed specifically for working with G8.
Internet Explorer 11: what awaits users?
To be honest, Internet Explorer is not very successful because it is not without its shortcomings. However, the latest version of the browser reaches a completely new level and can easily compete with other browsers in terms of functionality and speed. Therefore, many may want to. What innovations await users?
Firstly, there is an updated graphical interface. Not only has it become more convenient and practical, but the developers have also optimized it for the operation of devices with touch screens. Secondly, the loading speed of web pages has increased. In addition, the browser began to use system resources more efficiently. And finally, it has been supplemented with tools that allow you to more conveniently work with RSS feeds and bookmarks.
Uninstalling Internet Explorer in Windows 8
By default, Internet Explorer is installed along with the operating system. If you are still not satisfied with this browser, you can always disable it. It will still remain on the system, you just can use a different browser to view web pages. You can reactivate the browser at any time if necessary.
So, first, click on Win + R. Next in the window, enter the command appwiz.cpl. The Programs and Features menu will appear in front of us. In it you should select the link that is listed as Enable or disable system components. Follow it and get to the desired section.
Here you can see a list of components that the system includes. Internet Explorer is also located here. To deactivate the browser, uncheck the box next to its name. We confirm our actions by clicking OK. After this, the user will be presented with a warning that disabling Internet Explorer may lead to various consequences. Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen, so we just agree with the message.
It remains to wait some time until the system removes, or rather, disables the program. After the operation is completed, click OK again and that’s it, Internet Explorer 11 is disabled. By the way, in the Programs and Features section you can deactivate other applications that you consider unnecessary. However, you should be careful and it is better not to touch unfamiliar utilities.
In order to re-enable Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 8, you should repeat all the steps above, only in reverse order. In other words, place a checkmark next to the name of the Internet browser and confirm this. In the seventh version of the operating system, you can disable Internet Explorer in the same way. The only thing you need to take into account is that the path to opening the Programs and Features section will be slightly different. In order to get here you will need to go through Start to the Control Panel. When installing Eight, the initially familiar Start button is not present in Windows 8, it looks different, but read about it.
As you can see, disabling Internet Explorer 11 is quite simple. But before you start, I would advise you to try this browser in practice. In fact, the developers have significantly improved the latest version, making it quite easy to use. Although each user himself chooses the browser that he will use, focusing on personal preferences.
If you are thinking about how to remove Internet Explorer, then you are in the right place.
Everyone can get rid of an unnecessary and annoying browser, you just have to familiarize yourself with all the methods outlined below. It is worth mentioning in advance that using standard Windows 10 tools you can completely disable the application, i.e. Internet Explorer will not be in the user's field of view.
The fact is that IE is a standard application for Windows, just like Notepad and Paint. The web browser is integrated into the operating system, perhaps in the same way as earlier versions of Internet Explorer, without which some service packs could not work. Therefore, the developers had to keep the explorer in the latest version of the operating system, despite the fresh Microsoft Edge browser developed from scratch.
So from the user’s point of view, disabling IE means removing Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 10 for yourself 100%. Below we show you how to do it quickly and surely.
How to uninstall Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 10 using Control Panel
Step 1: Open Windows Settings or Control Panel in earlier versions of the operating system. To do this, open the “Notification Center” from the Taskbar and click the “All Settings” button.
Or right-click to go to the “Start” context menu and go to “Settings”.
Step 2: Go to Programs and Features. To do this, in the “Windows Settings” window, select “Applications”.
Step 3: Then from the Apps and Features window, go to Programs and Features using the link on the right side of the screen.
Step 5: In the “Windows Components” window, you need to find the entry “Internet Explorer 11” and uncheck the box next to it, and then click “OK”.
Step 5: The operating system will display a warning about the possible consequences of disabling IE 11. In fact, this will not affect the performance of the computer in any way if you have any other browser installed. You must agree to continue the operation in order to remove Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 10.
Step 6: You need to make a choice: restart your computer immediately or later. Internet Explorer will be disabled during the PC restart process.
Just in case: to enable the browser, you need to go all the way from the beginning, and in the “Windows Components” window, check the box next to Internet Explorer 11.
How to Uninstall IE 11 Using Command Prompt
This method was developed based on instructions from Microsoft, which are available on the corporation's official website.
Step 1: Open an elevated Command Prompt. Several options on how to do this:
- Click “Start” and write “cmd”. Right-click to bring up the “Command Line” application menu and run it as administrator;
- Or click “Start”, then System Tools> Command Prompt. Right-click and select “Advanced”, then “Run as administrator”.
Step 2: Enter the following query:
dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64
Sometimes during the operation you will need to press “Enter” again.
Step 3: Type “Y” to restart your computer immediately, or “N” to delay the reboot, then “Enter.”
Internet Explorer will be completely removed only after you restart your computer.
To get the browser back, you need to enter the following query into an elevated Command Prompt:
dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64
To remove Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7, you can use both methods described above. According to Microsoft instructions, disabling IE 11 has the same algorithm for both Windows 7 and Windows 10, and many other versions.
IMPORTANT. As mentioned above, standard methods only disable Internet Explorer. To completely remove Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 10, you need to use NTLite, a program for modifying Windows.
Note: to restore the browser, use the same method as to disable it (Control Panel or Command Prompt).
Conclusion
Both methods discussed are verified by Microsoft, so feel free to use them on your computer. I hope you were able to remove Internet Explorer without any problems. We are interested in your opinion, leave comments and reviews.
There are many reasons why many PC users wonder how to remove Internet Explorer. often work faster, provide a higher level of security and contain more features that Internet Explorer 11 users on Windows 7 can only dream of.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely safely and completely remove Internet Explorer from Windows. IE 11 is more than just a browser—it operates as the underlying technology for a range of internal Windows processes, including updates, operating system functionality, and more. Therefore, before you remove the browser from Windows 7, weigh the pros and cons.
There are many ways on the Internet on how to completely remove Internet Explorer, but many of them can only harm your computer, and the program will take a long time to uninstall. Before you begin to remove it, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the safest methods for solving the problem. According to experts, removing standard system components causes too many problems and is not worth it, even if the process was carried out using workarounds.
Since uninstalling Internet Explorer is not the best solution, you can safely disable this browser and use an alternative one as the only way to access the Internet on your Windows computer.
You can also use two browsers simultaneously on one computer. In this case, one of them should be launched by default, but both will have free access to the Internet.
Let's look at two methods that will give the same result as removing Internet Explorer, but will eliminate the very real possibility of serious problems associated with the functioning of the operating system.
Disabling Internet Explorer via “Set default programs”
One way to disable Internet Explorer in Windows 7 is to use the Set Default Programs utility.
You should first check an alternative Internet access tool, such as Chrome or Firefox, and then follow the simple steps to disable Internet Explorer:
- Click on the Start button, then go to Control Panel.
- In the Control Panel window, open Default Programs.
- In the “Default Programs” window, click on the “Set Default Programs” button.
- When all the programs are displayed on the screen, you will need to select a browser from the list.
- After that, select the defaults for this program by unchecking the boxes next to the file extensions that the program should open.
- Click on the "Save" button. Windows 7 will apply the changes and close automatically.
Since Windows Update requires the use of Internet Explorer, updating the system manually will no longer be possible. Automatic updates, if enabled, should continue without changes.
Remember that even if you disable Internet Explorer, you are not actually deleting it and your Windows 7 will continue to use it without harming your computer to carry out a number of internal processes.
Disabling IE through program access settings and defaults
The other option is similar to the previous one and also starts with the “Toolbar”. Make sure you install and test an alternative browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, and then follow this simple procedure:
- Through "Start" open "Control Panel".
- Go to "Default Programs". Select "Program and default access settings."
- By clicking on the “Other” item, you will see a list of settings, in the field that opens, select the default browser and uncheck the box next to IE, the same can be done with other standard programs - uncheck the boxes if you don’t need them.
- Click OK and Windows will apply all the settings. The process may take some time.
If you want to undo these changes in the future, follow the steps listed above, but this time revert the checkbox next to IE.
These methods will help you disable the standard browser; it is not at all necessary to remove it, so you don’t have to think about how to remove Internet Explorer 11.
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