Internet Microsoft Edge
The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser is quickly evolving, and as we approach the moment when the stable build gets the go-ahead, more users actually install the preview builds currently shipped as part of the Canary, Beta, and Dev channels.
Get Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android. Learn more: Accessibility with Microsoft Edge Skip to main content. This article explains how to remove Microsoft Edge from your Windows 10 PC, even though the typical uninstall option isn't available. Instructions include using Windows 10 Administrative Tools or PowerShell to remove the browser, or setting another browser as the default as a workaround. Internet Explorer category page Microsoft Download Center. World-class performance with more privacy, more productivity and more value while you browse.
In the last few days, several users told me that Edge doesn’t actually work on their Windows 10 devices for a reason that they can’t really determine.
And of course, some of these people rush to conclude that the new Edge is not even worth a chance, despite the fact that the problems that they come across might not necessarily be caused by the browser.
Today, we’re going to discuss a common error that Microsoft Edge occasionally hits on some devices:
“Unable to connect to the Internet.”
It goes without saying that this isn’t really the most straightforward error message, and truth be told, it provides no hint as to what went wrong and what you should change to resolve it.
A browser being unable to connect to the Internet can be caused by a wide variety of reasons, but in the case of the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, there are four things that are worth trying in an attempt to fix the problem.
Of course, the first thing to check are antivirus solutions, firewalls, and parental controls. These software applications might set rules to block certain programs from connecting to the Internet, including here browsers. So check the security products installed on your device and then unblock Edge. You can set exceptions for Microsoft Edge should the browser not be allowed to connect to the Internet.
The second thing you check is whether the BITS service is running on your device. BITS stands for Background Intelligent Transfer Services, and to enable it, here’s what you need to do.
Type services.msc in the Start menu and then in the list look for:
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Third, allow Microsoft Edge to connect to the Internet in the Windows Security interface. Follow this path step by step to do this:
Settings > Update & security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall > Change settings > Allow another app
“%ProgramFiles(x86)%MicrosoftEdgeUpdate<version>MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe” for 64-bit “%ProgramFiles%MicrosoftEdgeUpdate<version>MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe” for 32-bit
“<version>” is the highest number in the “Edge Update” folder.
And last but not least, you should reinstall Microsoft Edge. If you do this, you should also see prompts from your security software, technically being able to reconfigure exceptions and any blocks once again. Additionally, reinstalling the browser also helps deal with other issues that could prevent the app from accessing the Internet, including bugs caused by other components, like extensions and add-ons.
Microsoft Edge is a work in progress, and this means that problems like this could occasionally happen. The stable build of the browser should see daylight anytime soon, albeit the very same recommendations will be recommended for the stable channel too if the “Unable to connect to the Internet” error is encountered.
The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge is expected to become the new default in Windows 10 once the 20H1 feature update reaches production devices.
Alongside all the features and improvements in the roadmap for the new version of Microsoft Edge based on the Chromium engine, Microsoft includes a compatibility mode using the Internet Explorer rendering engine to load old websites.
The feature is known as “IE Mode,” and it has been designed for organizations to load internal sites without using a separate browser or having to redesign the site. The new approach loads the pages within Microsoft Edge like a regular website without using and managing multiple browsers.
If you want to start using it, the version of Microsoft Edge available through the stable channel now includes the “Internet Explorer compatibilities” settings to quickly enable IE Mode and a separate option to open Edge when browsing an incomparable website with Internet Explorer. Alongside the settings, it also possible to use the Group Policy Editor to configure the compatibility mode.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to enable IE Mode to load legacy websites using the Internet Explorer rendering engine on Chromium Edge for Windows 10. (You can also watch this video tutorial to configure the feature.)
How to enable IE mode on Microsoft Edge
To enable IE mode on Edge, use these steps:
Open Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Click the Settings and More (ellipsis) button on the top-right corner.
Select the Settings option.
Click on Default browser.
Under the “Internet Explorer compatibility” section, turn on the “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode” toggle switch.
Click the Restart button.
Once you complete the steps, when sites require Internet Explorer, you can use Microsoft Edge to reload the page using IE mode.
Open site with IE Mode on Edge
After the IE Mode is enabled, you need to reload a page with the compatibility mode manually.
To open an incompatible website with IE Mode on Edge, use these steps:
Open Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Click the Settings and More (ellipsis) button on the top-right corner.
Select the More tools submenu and choose the “Reload in Internet Explorer mode” option.
After you complete the steps, the website should reload in compatibility mode. If the feature is not enabled, then the option won’t be available in the menu.
If you want to exit IE Mode, you can use the same instructions, but on step No. 3, select the Exit Internet Explorer mode option.
Open Internet Explorer sites on Microsoft Edge
On Windows 10, Microsoft Edge also lets you configure the browser so that when someone is using Internet Explorer incompatible or all sites will load within Edge.
To let IE open websites with Edge, use these steps:
Open Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Click the Settings and More (ellipsis) button on the top-right corner.
Select the Settings option.
Click on Default browser.
Under the “Internet Explorer compatibility” section, use the “Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge” drop-down menu and select the option to handle browsing when using Internet Explorer, including:
- Never – IE will never switch to Edge to load the site.
- Incompatible sites only – IE will still load sites, but websites designed for a modern browser will load in Edge.
- Always – IE will always switch to Edge to load websites.
Internet Microsoft Edge
Once you complete the steps, when surfing the web in Internet Explorer, websites will open on Microsoft Edge, according to your configuration.
How to enable IE mode with Group Policy on Microsoft Edge
Alternatively, you can also enable IE Mode on Chromium Edge with Group Policy. However, you will need to download and install the policy template before you can configure the Group Policy settings.
Install Microsoft Edge policy template
To install the policy template to enable IE Mode on Edge, use these steps:
Open Microsoft Edge for business website.
Under the “Policy File” section, click the Download button.
Select the version of Microsoft Edge. (Usually, you want to use the latest stable version available.)
Select the build (latest version available).
Select the platform — for example, Windows 64-bit.
Click the Get policy files option.
Click the Accept & download button.
Double-click to open the MicrosoftEdgePolicyTemplates.zip file.
Click the Extract all button from the “Compressed Folder Tools” tab.
(Optional) Select the location to extract the files.
Check the Show extracted files when complete option.
Click the Extract button.
Browse the following path inside the (extracted) “MicrosoftEdgePolicyTemplates” folder:
Select the msedge.admx and msedgeupdate.admx files and click the Copy option from the “Home” tab.
Quick tip: You only need to copy the “msedgeupdate.admx” file if you want to control the update settings of Microsoft Edge.Browse to the following path:
Click the Paste button from the “Home” tab.
In the “admx” folder, inside the “MicrosoftEdgePolicyTemplates” folder, open the language folder that represents your language — for example, en-US.
Select the msedge.adml and msedgeupdate.adml files and click the Copy option from the “Home” tab.
Quick tip: You only need to copy the “msedgeupdate.adml” file if you also copy the file on step No.12.Browse to the following path that matches your language:
In the above command, make sure to change en-US for the folder that matches your language.
Click the Paste button from the “Home” tab.
Once you complete the steps, the new policies to enable or disable IE Mode on Edge Chromium will install in the Group Policy Editor.
Enable IE Mode on Microsoft Edge
To enable IE Mode on Chromium Edge with Group Policy, use these steps:
Open Start.
Search for gpedit and click the top result to open the Group Policy Editor.
Browse the following path:
Double-click the Configure Internet Explorer integration policy.
Select the Enabled option to enable IE Mode for Microsoft Edge.
Under the “Options” section, select the Internet Explorer mode from the dropdown menu.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.
After you complete the steps, websites will render in compatibility mode, and you’ll notice a familiar IE icon on the left side of the address bar letting you know the website is using Internet Explorer.
These steps enable IE Mode for intranet websites. If you want to load external websites using Chromium Edge, you need to enable and set up the “Configure the Enterprise Mode Site List” policy, which includes the creation of an XML file with the list of domains that you want to load automatically with the Internet Explorer mode.
Internet Options In Microsoft Edge
Update February 11, 2021: This guide has been revised with the steps to configure IE Mode on the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge using the new compatibility settings and updated the process to install the Group Policy templates.