Uninstall Internet Explorer Completely

This article teaches you how to prevent your PC from using Internet Explorer. While it is impossible to uninstall or delete Internet Explorer from Windows 7, 8 and 10, you can disable it as a Windows feature so that it can't be used to open Windows error reports, PDFs, or other forms.

Steps

Disabling Internet Explorer (Windows 8 and 10)

1. Right-click the Start button. This should open the quick-access Start menu.
   • You can also hold down ⊞ Win and tap X to bring up this menu.
2. Click Programs and Features. It should be at the top of the menu.
3. Click Turn Windows Features On or Off. This is in the top left corner of the Programs and Features window.
4. Click the box to the left of "Internet Explorer 11". There should be a check in it; clicking this box will remove the check.
   • If there is no check in the "Internet Explorer 11" box, Internet Explorer is already disabled on your computer.
5. Click Yes when prompted. This will give your computer permission to remove the selected item (in this case, Internet Explorer).
   • If you don't have another web browser besides Microsoft Edge on your PC, consider using Internet Explorer one more time to download a new browser (e.g., Chrome).
6. Click OK. Windows will begin the disabling process. You may need to wait a few minutes before you can proceed.
7. Click Restart Now. This will restart your computer. Once your computer reboots, your changes have been applied!

Disabling Internet Explorer (Windows 7)

1. Click the Start button. It's in the bottom left corner of your screen.
   • You can also tap the ⊞ Win key to open the Start menu.
2. Type "Programs and Features" into the search bar. The Start menu search bar is at the bottom of the Start menu.
3. Click Programs and Features. This option should be available at the top of the Start window.
4. Click View installed updates. You'll find this in the top left corner of the Programs and Features window.
5. Scroll down to the "Microsoft Windows" section. There should be a number to the right of the Microsoft Windows heading (e.g., "16").
6. Click Windows Internet Explorer. This may be Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11 depending on the last time you updated. If you're having trouble finding it, you can click the Name tab at the top of this screen to organize the contents here alphabetically, or you can type "Internet Explorer" into the search bar in the top right corner of the window.
7. Click Uninstall. It's above the list of names here.
8. Click Yes.
9. Wait for the process to finish.
10. Click Restart now. Once your computer reboots, Internet Explorer will be disabled.

Tips

• You won't be able to access your PC's installation files from a non-administrator account.

Warnings

• There is no way to truly uninstall Internet Explorer from Windows 7, 8 and 10 computers.
• Even though Windows 7 claims to uninstall the browser, it actually uses a disable procedure similar to Windows 8 and 10. Several programs, including Microsoft Visual Studio will still happily start Internet Explorer for you, and it is still completely functional. Even worse, the license activation mechanism for Visual Studio relies on Internet Explorer and would stop working if you truly managed to remove it.

Related Articles

• Uninstall Internet Explorer 9

See also

• Create a Custom Title in the Internet Explorer Window
• Create a Shortcut of a Specific Website to Your Desktop from Internet Explorer 9
• Subscribe to and Read RSS Feeds with Internet Explorer
• Remove a Website From the Restricted Site List in Internet Explorer
• Clear Internet Explorer's URL History by Editing the Registry
• Add Addons in Internet Explorer
• Get Rid of Unwanted Toolbars
• Copy Favorites
• Update Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Remove Content Advisor Password in Internet Explorer

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