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Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) still ships with Windows 10 as a legacy component, even though Microsoft Edge became the default browser years ago. IE11 no longer gets feature updates and only receives critical security patches, so keeping it installed adds attack surface without benefit. Many developers and security-conscious users prefer to strip it out entirely to reduce risk and system clutter. Below are three ways to remove it, along with what to expect after uninstallation.

Why Remove Internet Explorer 11?

IE11 no longer receives feature updates and only gets security patches for critical vulnerabilities. For a developer working with modern web standards, keeping IE11 installed offers little benefit and several risks:

• Security exposure – Even if you never launch IE11, its components (such as the rendering engine and ActiveX controls) remain on disk and can be targeted by malware.
• Reduced system clutter – Removing unused features frees up disk space and simplifies system maintenance.
• Compliance requirements – Some corporate or government policies mandate the removal of deprecated software to meet security baselines.

If you need to test legacy websites, Microsoft Edge includes an “IE mode” that replicates the old rendering engine without keeping the full browser installed.

Method 1: Using Windows Features (Control Panel)

This is the simplest approach and works on all editions of Windows 10 (Home, Pro, Enterprise). No command-line skills are required.

1. Open Control Panel (press Win + R, type control, and press Enter).
2. Navigate to Programs → Turn Windows features on or off.
3. In the list, scroll down and uncheck the box labeled Internet Explorer 11.
4. Click OK. Windows will prompt you to restart. Save your work and reboot.

After the restart, IE11 will be removed from the Start menu, and its executable (C:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exe) will no longer be accessible.

Method 2: Using PowerShell

For those who prefer automation or need to uninstall IE11 on multiple machines, PowerShell is efficient. Run Windows PowerShell as Administrator.

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" -NoRestart

The -NoRestart flag prevents an immediate reboot. If you want to restart automatically, omit it. To confirm the feature status before removal:

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64"

If the State shows Enabled, proceed with the Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature command. After a reboot, IE11 is gone.

Method 3: Using DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool)

DISM is the low-level tool that Windows itself uses to manage feature states. It’s especially useful in recovery or offline scenarios.

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt (or PowerShell).
2. Run:
   dism /online /disable-feature /featurename:"Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" /norestart
3. When the operation completes, restart your PC:
   shutdown /r /t 0

DISM outputs detailed progress and error messages. If you see a “feature not found” error, double-check the feature name—on 32-bit systems it’s Internet-Explorer-Optional-x86.

What Happens After Uninstallation?

Removing IE11 does not break Windows core functionality. However, a few applications that rely on the IE rendering engine (such as older versions of Microsoft Outlook or some help viewers) may stop working. The fix is usually to use Edge’s IE mode or reinstall IE11 via the same Windows Features dialog.

You can verify the removal by checking that C:Program FilesInternet Explorer is empty or missing, and by running iexplore.exe from the Run dialog—it should produce an error.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• “The feature is already disabled” – If you see this message, IE11 was already removed. Check Get-WindowsOptionalFeature to confirm.
• Reappearance after a feature update – Major Windows 10 updates (like version 22H2) sometimes re-enable IE11. Run the removal commands again after the update.
• Cannot uninstall on Windows 10 LTSC – The Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions may lock IE11 as a permanent component. In that case, you can only disable it via Group Policy or by using a different edition.

If you later need IE11 back, simply re-check the box in Windows Features or run Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" in PowerShell.

Once IE11 is removed, check that your default browser is set to Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. If an internal app breaks, Edge's IE mode usually fixes it without reinstalling the full browser—it uses the same Trident engine but runs inside a modern, secure environment. And if a future Windows feature update re-enables IE11, just run the PowerShell command again; it takes seconds.