This article shows you how to prevent your Windows computer from using Internet Explorer as an internet browser. Although uninstalling this program has become impossible because it is an integral part of Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10, it is still possible to disable it as it disables all other unwanted Windows features, so that it cannot be used to view PDF files, error reports from Windows or other modules.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Disable Internet Explorer (Windows 8 and Windows 10)
Step 1. Select the Start button with the right mouse button
This will bring up a context menu related to accessing the most used configuration settings.
Alternatively, you can use the hotkey combination ⊞ Win + X to quickly access the same menu
Step 2. Choose the Programs and Features option
It should be the first item on the menu.
Step 3. Select the Turn Windows features on or off link
It is located in the upper left part of the "Programs and Features" window that has appeared.
Step 4. Click the check button next to "Internet Explorer 11"
It should already be selected, so you should see a small check mark inside it. Click it to deselect it.
If the "Internet Explorer 11" checkbox is not selected, it means that Internet Explorer has already been disabled
Step 5. Press the Yes button when prompted
This will authorize the computer to disable the indicated Windows components (in this case Internet Explorer).
If Internet Explorer is the only internet browser installed on your computer, along with Microsoft Edge, consider using it one last time to download an alternative browser, such as Google Chrome or Firefox
Step 6. Press the OK button
Windows will start the Internet Explorer disabling procedure. Before you can proceed any further, you may have to wait several minutes.
Step 7. Press the Restart button
This will restart your computer and the configuration changes will be applied.
Method 2 of 2: Disable Internet Explorer (Windows 7)
Step 1. Click the Start button
It is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Alternatively, you can press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard to open the "Start" menu
Step 2. Type the keywords "programs and features" into the search bar
The latter is located at the bottom of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Select the Programs and Features item
It should be the first item available at the top of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Click the View installed updates link
It is located in the upper left part of the "Programs and Features" window that has appeared.
Step 5. Scroll down to the "Microsoft Windows" section
Next to the heading of the "Microsoft Windows" section, there should be a number (for example "16").
Step 6. Select the entry for Windows Internet Explorer
This could be Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11, depending on the last time you updated this component. If you have trouble locating this item in the list, click the column header "First name" to sort the contents of the table alphabetically. Alternatively, you can type the keywords "Internet Explorer" into the search field located in the upper right corner of the window.
Step 7. Press the Uninstall button
It is located above the "Name" column.
Step 8. Press the Yes button to proceed
Step 9. Wait for the deactivation procedure to finish
Step 10. Press the Restart button
This will restart the computer and the configuration changes will be applied. The use of Internet Explorer will be disabled.
Advice
If you use an account without administrative rights on your computer, you will not be able to access the system installation files
Warnings
- There is no method that allows you to physically and completely uninstall Internet Explorer from computers running Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.
- Although in Windows 7 you would receive a notification that the browser has been uninstalled, in reality it will have simply been disabled through a procedure very similar to that used by Windows 8 and Windows 10. There are several Microsoft programs that will continue to use Internet Explorer every time you need to access the web, including Microsoft Visual Studio, and the browser will appear perfectly and fully functional. The worst thing is that the Visual Studio license activation procedure is based on Internet Explorer; if you try to remove it manually, the Visual Studio development environment would also stop working.
