IE 11
Why doesn't MCe run on it?

Note while some very limited portions ran until about 2025, none run on IE 11 anymore.

Introduction

We recommend you use Chrome or Edge. All Microsoft supported platforms that run IE 11 also run Chrome and ones since 2015 also run Edge.

We try very hard to give the best possible outcome on all devices.

Once in a while we get the question. Do we no longer run on IE 11?

This is not because of anything we do, this is because of Microsoft has abandoned IE 11 and is only making minor security fixes. Or, another way to look at it: Microsoft says that Edge is 'the' upgrade to IE, and IE is designed to only run old outdated applications. MCe is not one of those!

Warning: Even if you are on an extended contract with Microsoft, there are known security flaws in IE 11 that they cannot/will not fix because fixing them would break legacy applications, and running old fashioned, outdated applications is the only reason that IE 11 still exists.

Warning: You should NOT use IE 11 unless you have no other option. This means we strongly recommend you NOT use IE 11 for running MRO since it can also run on Chrome. Running anything on IE 11 puts you at risk of accidently introducing a virus or something similar on your network. If you have any security concerns, you should ban IE 11 on your network.

We do not see the situation improving because Microsoft has said they won't upgrade IE, only provide security fixes.

So why do we say

  • Windows is better than Android
  • which in turn is better than iOS for larger screens
  • and Android is better than iOS for phones

if we don't support IE 11?

Very simply. Every Microsoft version of Windows that runs IE 11 also runs Chrome and any since mid 2015 also run Edge.

What is Microsoft's stance?

IE (all versions) is a deprecated product. They want you to use one of the Edge products instead unless you are running old, outdated web apps. They want you to not like IE. They want you to upgrade your old apps to run on Edge and upgrade them so they do not run on IE.

Ignoring versions of Windows that can run Edge and IE: (where it would be silly to use IE for advanced products like ours)

Officially Microsoft has DROPPED support for most people using IE 11 on 2015.01.13 or 2015.04.09 (you don't get security fixes anymore) and for a few, with extended contracts, they will continue to provide only security fixes and only until 2020.01.14 so basically 2019. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/search?alpha=windows%207 (ignore all the references to IE 7 and go down to Windows 7) after which, they won't even provide security fixes.

So should I get an iOS device, a Windows device or an Android device?

The author of this document uses all three and some other ones as well (Linux based as well as ones like Raspberry pi and Arduino.) Here is the recommendation:

For a tablet or laptop or desktop

  • Windows with Chrome will be your premium experience, allow you the most offline data, will be the fastest, and the least error prone.
  • Android will be very close
  • Apple will frequently be fairly close, but see the similar iOS document before switching to iOS.
  • IE (the browser on older Windows) is a confusing one to put in this list. It is the most stable, but it has the fewest features, so we are missing some things on it.

Aside: For a phone

  • Good quality Android devices like the latest Samsung S devices will give you the premium experience
  • iPhones come in around second, but not 10th!)
  • Lesser quality Android devices come in either above or below iPhone depending on the device.

But regardless of what you pick, Windows, Android or iOS. We will work hard to keep all platforms working the very best we reasonably can.