Edge Compatibility Mode: Everything You Need to Know
How to Use Compatibility View on Edge
In 2022, Internet Explorer became a thing of the past as Microsoft instead pushed out a new browser, Microsoft Edge., But, they thoughtfully included a way to allow continued use of these sites Internet Explorer (IE) mode.
Using Compatibility View is simple through the settings menu. We’ll cover compatibility view and Internet Explorer mode under three different circumstances. Use this perk while you can because Microsoft may not be continuing it after 2029.
How to Turn on Compatibility View on Edge Browser
Here’s how to enable Compatibility View:
- Open Edge browser
- Press Alt + F to bring up the Edge menu and then click on Settings from the options
- In the Settings window, click on Default Browser on the left pane
- Navigate to Internet Explorer Mode on the right
- Click on the drop-down menu next to it and select Allow
- The changes will be saved automatically, enabling the compatibility mode whenever you reopen Edge.
How to Open a Website in Compatibility Mode Once
This allows you to view a single website in Compatibility Mode just once and won’t affect other websites. Here are the steps:
- On the URL box, enter the intranet that only supports Internet Explorer and load it up
- Next, press Alt + F to load up Edge settings
- From the options therein, select Reload in Internet Explorer mode
- Wait for the website to reload, you’ll see the logo of Internet Explorer next to the address bar, indicating IE mode has been enabled
How to Always Open a Specific Website in Internet Explorer
Since the compatibility mode is targeted at old websites, you can enable these types of sites permanently. Here’s how:
- Dive into Edge settings again using the earlier steps
- Locate the Internet Explorer Mode page again in the Default Browser menu
- Once on the Internet Explorer Mode page, click on Add and type/paste the website URL you intend to enable the feature for
- Lastly, click Add again to save the URL to the list of websites you want to always open in compatibility mode
Final Note
Using Compatibility Mode is very simple, but if you’re adding a website to always use this mode it will only last 30 days before you’ll need to manually add the website again. That said, certain administrative Edge features can extend this to 90 days at a time. There are also scripts to further expand the time if you wish to delve into advanced techniques. However, be aware that Edge’s engine is faster and more secure than IE. If you can use it instead of Internet Explorer, you should, as it will keep you better protected.
