Microsoft’s browser lineup: Microsoft Edge is the current choice, while Internet Explorer served as the long-running predecessor.
Here is the straight answer up top, with context right behind it. The company ships Microsoft Edge on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS. Before Edge, Internet Explorer ran the show for two decades. If you landed here asking which program came from Redmond, those are the names that matter. The details below explain what changed, why it changed, and how that affects your day-to-day browsing.
What Browser Did Microsoft Build Over The Years?
Two products define the story. Internet Explorer launched in 1995 and was bundled with Windows for many years. Microsoft Edge arrived in 2015 as the new default on Windows 10, first with the EdgeHTML engine and later rebuilt on the Chromium engine in 2020. Edge is the active project, with frequent releases and cross-platform builds. Internet Explorer is retired for consumer use, kept around only through an enterprise compatibility mode inside Edge.
At A Glance: Names, Years, And Engines
This table gives you the quick map from name to era to underlying tech.
| Browser | Main Years | Engine/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Explorer | 1995–2015 (consumer), security updates into the 2010s | Trident engine; shipped with Windows; now retired for most users |
| Edge (Legacy) | 2015–2020 | EdgeHTML engine; Windows 10 default at launch |
| Edge (Chromium) | 2020–present | Chromium base with Blink/V8; current cross-platform browser |
Why The Company Moved From Internet Explorer To Edge
By the mid-2010s the web had grown far beyond the early HTML era that Internet Explorer targeted. Competing engines shipped standards faster, and developers tested against them. The company wanted a modern extension model, tighter security, and faster release cycles. Edge answered that need. The first release used a homegrown engine. In 2020 the team switched to Chromium so site compatibility and extension support would match what many developers expect today.
What That Means For You
On a current PC, phone, or Mac, the default from the Windows maker is Edge with the Chromium core. You get frequent stable updates, access to the large Chrome extension catalog, and features like Collections, Profiles, vertical tabs, and built-in tracking prevention. If a work app only opens in Internet Explorer, Edge includes an IE Mode that renders old sites with the legacy engine inside a modern window. Home users rarely need it, but IT teams still rely on it to keep older portals running while they finish upgrades.
Release Timeline And Milestones
Linux and Xbox builds arrived later as the project expanded across platforms for everyone. Here is a quick tour of key moments that shape the current state of play. Internet Explorer first appeared in 1995 with Windows 95 Plus! and grew through eleven main versions. In 2015, Edge shipped with Windows 10 and took over as the default. The big pivot came in January 2020 when the company released the Chromium-based edition. From that point forward, the team aligned with the upstream project for web standards and extension APIs, while still shipping its own features on top.
Retirement Of The Old Guard
Internet Explorer reached end of support on many Windows 10 editions on June 15, 2022, with guidance to move to Edge and use IE Mode only for legacy web apps. Edge Legacy stopped receiving support in March 2021, replaced by the Chromium build. If you still see the blue “e” icon on an old machine, the system now redirects many tasks to Edge to keep you on a supported path.
Which Microsoft Browser Fits Most People Today?
For everyday use, the answer is Edge on the Chromium base. It runs the same modern web platform that powers Chrome, so sites behave as developers expect. It also talks to Windows features like single sign-on, family safety settings, and Windows Hello. If you use a Mac or Linux box, downloads are available there too, so you can sync passwords, history, and favorites across all your gear.
Pros You Will Notice In Daily Use
The interface is tidy, and the browser feels familiar if you have used Chrome. Vertical tabs and Tab Groups reduce clutter on small screens. Collections make it easy to clip pages into a tidy board for research. Tracking prevention and clear cookie controls help you shape how sites follow you across the web.
Any Downsides?
Edge ties into Windows features, which some people like and others turn off. The browser also ships with extra services such as shopping helpers and sidebar tools that some users disable for a cleaner look. The good news is that most of these features can be toggled in settings. You can pick a minimal setup and keep it that way.
How To Tell Which Browser You Have
On Windows 11 or Windows 10, press Win and type “Edge.” If the logo is a green-blue swirl, you have the current build. If your machine still opens an older blue “e,” chances are the system now pushes many tasks into Edge. On macOS, check the Applications folder for “Microsoft Edge.” On phones, open your app store and search for the same name. Sync the same account on each device to keep your bookmarks and passwords aligned.
Check Your Default
On Windows 11, open Settings → Apps → Default apps and set Edge for HTTP, HTTPS, and .htm/.html. On macOS, open Safari → Settings → General and set the default to Edge. The point is simple: pick one browser for daily use and keep it updated; that reduces prompts, speeds up page loads, and keeps security patches timely.
Compatibility And The Role Of IE Mode
Some workplaces still depend on intranet tools written for the Trident engine. Edge includes IE Mode to handle those pages. Admins can feed a list of sites that require the old engine. When users visit those addresses, Edge loads them in a special tab while keeping the rest of the web on the modern engine.
If you manage tech for a small business, test your vendor portals inside Edge. If one fails in the modern view, try IE Mode. If it works there, ask the vendor for a timeline on a standards-based update. That way you can trim your IE Mode list over time and avoid locking new tools to an old engine.
Security, Updates, And Privacy Basics
The Chromium build rides a fast update train. Stable channel releases arrive often, with security notes published when patches ship. Sandboxing, site isolation, and SmartScreen checks limit damage from bad pages. You can tune three levels of tracking prevention and add site exceptions when a page needs broader access.
For anyone helping family members, the best simple plan is this: keep one browser as default, keep auto-update on, and turn on password monitoring. That mix blocks many common threats, keeps extensions current, and alerts you if saved logins pop up in a breach dump elsewhere.
Feature Differences That Matter
Edge supports the big extension stores, so tools like password managers, note clippers, and grammar checkers carry over. PDF handling is strong, with in-browser viewing and markup. Immersive Reader cleans up busy pages. The browser also supports multiple profiles with separate work and home accounts, which helps isolate cookies and single sign-on sessions.
Deciding When To Switch
If you still use an old Internet Explorer-only tool at home, now is a good time to move your daily browsing to Edge and leave that one site for IE Mode. If your current browser works well and you are happy with it, you can still install Edge for testing and keep it around for specific tasks like PDF edits or media casting. Try it for a week and see if features like vertical tabs or Collections help your workflow.
Where To Read Official Guidance
The company maintains detailed lifecycle pages and support notes. For engine changes and the move from EdgeHTML to the current build, read the new Edge versus Edge Legacy.
Quick Reference: What Works Where
This matrix lists common scenarios, the right Microsoft browser, and the support note to check when you plan upgrades.
| Scenario | Best Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modern websites and web apps | Edge (Chromium) | Fast updates, broad extension support |
| Legacy intranet that needs ActiveX | Edge with IE Mode | Use a site list; phase out when vendors update |
| Old PCs tied to past Windows builds | Edge when supported | Where not supported, use a maintained third-party browser |
Practical Tips For Everyday Users
Keep It Updated
Open Settings → About in Edge to trigger an update check. Turn on automatic updates at the system level as well. That keeps you patched without manual steps.
Use Profiles
Make a work profile and a personal profile. Sign each into the right account. This isolates cookies, syncs to the right cloud, and cuts cross-account bleed-through in tools like Outlook or Teams.
Trim The Noise
Turn off shopping popups if you prefer a lean window.
Control Tracking
Open Privacy, search, and services. Pick Balanced or Strict. Add site exceptions when needed. Review permissions for location, microphone, and camera.
Bottom Line For The Curious Searcher
If you came here asking which program came from the Windows maker, you now have the names, the years, and why the baton passed from the old brand to the new one. Use Edge for daily browsing. Keep IE Mode only where a business tool demands it. That mix gives you modern speed with a safety net for that one stubborn portal.