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Important
Simulate Internet Explorer on Mac with Safari. Most of the time, if you need to use Internet Explorer on Mac, it’s probably for testing purposes, to see how certain websites or web apps perform, or to access websites that require you to use IE (yes, those still exist). Searching “Internet Explorer for Mac” on Google might have brought up a few websites claiming to deliver the Windows 10 browser on your Mac.Spoiler alert. It’s a sham.
Microsoft 365 apps and services will not support Internet Explorer 11 starting August 17, 2021 (Microsoft Teams will not support Internet Explorer 11 earlier, starting November 30, 2020). Learn more. Please note that Internet Explorer 11 will remain a supported browser. Internet Explorer 11 is a component of the Windows operating system and follows the Lifecycle Policy for the product on which it is installed.
Find out how to achieve better backward compatibility for your legacy web applications with the Enterprise Mode Site List.
Jump to:
Enterprise Mode for Internet Explorer 11 can be very effective in providing backward compatibility for older web apps. The Enterprise Mode Site List includes the ability to put any web app in any document mode, include IE8 and IE7 Enterprise Modes, without changing a single line of code on the website.
Sites in the <docMode> section can be rendered in any document mode, as shown in blue above. Some sites designed for older versions of Internet Explorer may require better backward compatibility, and these can leverage the <emie> section of the Enterprise Mode Site List. IE8 Enterprise Mode provides higher-fidelity emulation for Internet Explorer 8 by using, among other improvements, the original Internet Explorer 8 user agent string. IE7 Enterprise Mode further improves emulation by adding Compatibility View.
Compatibility View, first introduced with Internet Explorer 8, is basically a switch. If a webpage has no DOCTYPE, that page will be rendered in Internet Explorer 5 mode. If there is a DOCTYPE, the page will be rendered in Internet Explorer 7 mode. You can effectively get Compatibility View by specifying Internet Explorer 7 in the <docMode> section, as this falls back to Internet Explorer 5 automatically if there's no DOCTYPE, or you can use IE7 Enterprise Mode for even better emulation.
Tips for IT professionals
Inventory your sites
Upgrading to a new browser can be a time-consuming and potentially costly venture. To help reduce these costs, you can download the Enterprise Site Discovery Toolkit, which can help you prioritize which sites you should be testing based on their usage in your enterprise. For example, if the data shows that no one is visiting a particular legacy web app, you may not need to test or fix it. The toolkit is supported on Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, and Internet Explorer 11. The toolkit also gives you information about which document mode a page runs in your current browser so you can better understand how to fix that site if it breaks in a newer version of the browser.
Once you know which sites to test and fix, the following remediation methods may help fix your compatibility issues in Internet Explorer 11 and Windows 10.
If you're on Internet Explorer 8 and upgrading to Internet Explorer 11:
Use the Enterprise Mode Site List to add sites to the Internet Explorer 5, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8 documents modes, as well as IE8 Enterprise Mode and IE7 Enterprise Mode.
Sites with the x-ua-compatible meta tag or HTTP header set to 'IE=edge' may break in Internet Explorer 11 and need to be set to Internet Explorer 8 mode. This is because 'edge' in Internet Explorer 8 meant Internet Explorer 8 mode, but 'edge' in Internet Explorer 11 means Internet Explorer 11 mode.
Sites without a DOCTYPE in zones other than Intranet will default to QME (or 'interoperable quirks') rather than Internet Explorer 5 Quirks and may need to be set to Internet Explorer 5 mode.
Some sites may need to be added to both Enterprise Mode and Compatibility View to work. You can do this by adding the site to IE7 Enterprise Mode.
If you're on Internet Explorer 9 and upgrading to Internet Explorer 11:
Use the Enterprise Mode Site List to add sites to the Internet Explorer 5, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 9 document modes.
Sites with the x-ua-compatible meta tag or HTTP header set to 'IE=edge' may break in Internet Explorer 11 and need to be set to Internet Explorer 9 mode. This is because 'edge' in Internet Explorer 9 meant Internet Explorer 9 mode, but 'edge' in Internet Explorer 11 means Internet Explorer 11 mode.
Sites without a DOCTYPE in zones other than Intranet will default to Interoperable Quirks rather than Internet Explorer 5 Quirks and may need to be set to Internet Explorer 5 mode.
If your sites worked in Internet Explorer 9, you won't need IE8 Enterprise Mode or IE7 Enterprise Mode.
If you're on Internet Explorer 10 and upgrading to Internet Explorer 11:
Use the Enterprise Mode Site List to add sites to the Internet Explorer 5, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 10 modes.
Sites with the x-ua-compatible meta tag or HTTP header set to 'IE=edge' may break in Internet Explorer 11 and need to be set to Internet Explorer 10 mode. This is because 'edge' in Internet Explorer 10 meant Internet Explorer 10 mode, but 'edge' in Internet Explorer 11 means Internet Explorer 11 mode.
If your sites worked in Internet Explorer 10, you won't need IE8 Enterprise Mode or IE7 Enterprise Mode.
If you're on Internet Explorer 11 and upgrading to Windows 10:
You're all set! You shouldn’t need to make any changes.
Tips for web developers
If your website worked in an older version of Internet Explorer, but no longer works in Internet Explorer 11, you may need to update the site. Here are the set of steps you should take to find the appropriate remediation strategy.
Try document modes
To see if the site works in the Internet Explorer 5, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, or Internet Explorer 11 document modes:
Open the site in Internet Explorer 11, load the F12 tools by pressing the F12 key or by selecting F12 Developer Tools from the Tools menu, and select the Emulation tab.
Run the site in each document mode until you find the mode in which the site works.
Note
You will need to make sure the User agent string dropdown matches the same browser version as the Document mode dropdown. For example, if you were testing to see if the site works in Internet Explorer 10, you should update the Document mode dropdown to 10 and the User agent string dropdown to Internet Explorer 10.
If you find a mode in which your site works, you will need to add the site domain, sub-domain, or URL to the Enterprise Mode Site List for the document mode in which the site works, or ask the IT administrator to do so. You can add the x-ua-compatible meta tag or HTTP header as well.
Try IE8 Enterprise Mode
If a document mode didn't fix your site, try IE8 Enterprise Mode, which benefits sites written for Internet Explorer 5, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8 document modes.
Enable the Let users turn on and use Enterprise Mode from the Tools menu policy locally on your machine. To do this:
Search for and run gpedit.msc
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Windows Components > Internet Explorer.
Enable the Let users turn on and use Enterprise Mode from the Tools menu Group Policy setting.
After making this change, run gpupdate.exe /force to make sure the setting is applied locally. You should also make sure to disable this setting once you're done testing. Alternately, you can use a regkey; see Turn on local control and logging for Enterprise Mode for more information.
Restart Internet Explorer 11 and open the site you're testing, then go to Emulation tab in the F12 Developer Tools and select Enterprise from the Browser profile dropdown. If the site works, inform the IT administrator that the site needs to be added to the IE8 Enterprise Mode section.
Try IE7 Enterprise Mode
If IE8 Enterprise Mode doesn't work, IE7 Enterprise Mode will give you the Compatibility View behavior that shipped with Internet Explorer 8 with Enterprise Mode. To try this approach:
Go to the Tools menu, select Compatibility View Settings, and add the site to the list.
Go to Emulation tab in the F12 Developer Tools and select Enterprise from the Browser profile dropdown.
If the site works, inform the IT administrator that the site needs to be added to the IE7 Enterprise Mode section.
Note
Adding the same Web path to the Enterprise Mode and sections of the Enterprise Mode Site List will not work, but we will address this in a future update.
Update the site for modern web standards
We recommend that enterprise customers focus their new development on established, modern web standards for better performance and interoperability across devices, and avoid developing sites in older Internet Explorer document modes. We often hear that, due to fact that the Intranet zone defaults to Compatibility View, web developers inadvertently create new sites in the Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 5 modes in the Intranet zone, depending on whether or not they used a DOCTYPE. As you move your web apps to modern standards, you can enable the Turn on Internet Explorer Standards Mode for local intranet Group Policy setting and add those sites that need Internet Explorer 5 or Internet Explorer 7 modes to the Site List. Of course, it is always a good idea to test the app to ensure that these settings work for your environment.
Related resources
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If you’ve just recently switched from PC to Mac, you’ve probably noticed that instead of Internet Explorer or Edge that you’re used to, Mac has its own proprietary browser called Safari. In fact if you try searching for “download Internet Explorer for Mac” you’ll quickly realize that the exact IE equivalent on Mac doesn’t exist. What do you do then?
Interestingly, at the dawn of the world wide web in the late 90s, Internet Explorer was the default browser on all Macs. But when Apple introduced Safari as the new default browser in 2003, Microsoft has decided to discontinue the development of IE for Mac shortly after. So unless you run Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier (why would you?), there is no way to directly install Internet Explorer on Mac. And you definitely shouldn’t use the Internet Explorer versions from pre-2003 right now.
Windows apps alternatives for Mac?
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How To Use Internet Explorer on Mac
Although natively launching Internet Explorer on Mac isn’t possible, there are other ways to simulate IE for Mac experience. You could mask Safari as different versions of Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge, you could also install a virtual machine and launch IE for Mac that way, or you could simply choose to use any other third-party browser available on macOS.
Simulate Internet Explorer on Mac with Safari
Most of the time, if you need to use Internet Explorer on Mac, it’s probably for testing purposes, to see how certain websites or web apps perform, or to access websites that require you to use IE (yes, those still exist).
Both of those use cases could be easily performed by Safari. To use Internet Explorer with Safari, you just need to turn on developer tools:
- In Safari, go to Preferences > Advanced
- Check “Show Develop menu in menu bar”
Now you can access developer tools directly from Safari, which let you inspect websites, empty caches, and most importantly simulate a variety of other browsers right through the Safari app. To use Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer on Mac:
- Go to the Develop menu in Safari’s menu bar
- Navigate to User Agent and select the browser you’re looking for, whether it’s Microsoft Edge, any of the Internet Explorer versions, Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.
- The website you’re on will be automatically refreshed to reflect the browser of your choice. Just don’t forget to switch back!
The User Agent option in Safari should cover nearly all reasons for using Internet Explorer on Mac. However, if you do absolutely need to launch Internet Explorer itself for one reason or another, you could also try doing it with the help of a virtual machine.
Launch Internet Explorer on a virtual machine
While using a virtual machine for Internet Explorer is not by any means an easy solution, it’s still there for anyone who needs it. What virtual machine essentially does is installing a full-scale copy of Windows on your Mac and letting you launch it as an app inside the macOS. From there you can launch Internet Explorer or, in fact, any program you miss from your Windows days.
To set up virtual machine, first you need to buy a copy of some virtual machine software (VMware Fusion is a good one) and a license for Windows. Once you have those in place:
- Download both VMware fusion and the Windows ISO file
- Launch VMware Fusion
- In the Installation Method window, choose “Create a new custom virtual machine”
- Drag and drop your Windows ISO file onto the dialogue window
- Click Finish
- Relaunch the virtual machine and click the play button to setup Windows
Now every time you need to use Internet Explorer on Mac, you can just launch the virtual machine and use IE directly with Windows that way. There are certainly a few downsides to this solution. First, you have to purchase both VMware Fusion and a licensed copy of Windows for the sole purpose of using Internet Explorer. Second, virtual machines tend to be quite heavy on your processor, as they are running the whole operating system inside them.
Download Internet Explorer For Apple Mac
Another option available to you in case you don’t specifically need to use IE for Mac but rather move away from Safari is to switch to any other third-party browser, all of which are freely available on macOS.
Use third-party browsers on Mac
If Safari is not your first browser of choice and using Internet Explorer for Mac is at the very least quite complicated, you can download any other stable and widely used browser out there and make it the default one on your macOS.
Internet Explorer 11 For Mac Download 2018
Google Chrome
By far the most dominant browser of today, Google Chrome currently commands 45–65% browser market share. Developed by Google, the browser is available on both desktop and mobile devices, and thus boasts a significant amount of plugins and web apps that are exclusive to it. Chrome has also been praised for its speed and tight integration with all other Google products. As for the downsides, using Chrome means being subjected to Google’s pervading tracking and helping Google to effectively monopolize the web.
Firefox
Firefox is another great everyday browser. Heir to the first commercial web browser called Netscape, it’s an open-source program owned by the not-for-profit Mozilla Foundation. Firefox is fast, secure, and boasts a supportive community around the world. All of this makes it a great alternative to Safari and Internet Explorer.
Brave
Brave is a newcomer to the browser arena that first appear only in 2015. Based on the open-source Chromium project (as is Google Chrome), the browser quickly gained a loyal following due to its aggressive privacy controls and ad blocking. Turning Brave into your default browser might seem a bit experimental at this point, but it nevertheless presents a good option for anyone concerned with privacy.
Microsoft Edge
Although not available on macOS as of early 2019, Microsoft has announced that it’s currently rewriting the Edge browser engine to run on Chromium (like Google Chrome and Brave), which means it will become compatible with macOS too upon release. Fingers crossed, but in the meantime you can choose one of the alternative browsers listed above.
Overall, these are your three options of running Internet Explorer on Mac. You can use Safari’s User Agent to view any webpage just as Internet Explorer would, launch the actual Internet Explorer browser through a virtual machine running Windows, or choose one of the alternative browsers if all you want to do is get away from Safari on Mac.
However, if you’re new to Mac, a browser might not be the only thing you’re concerned about. You also need to find apps to cover all kinds of issues related to optimization, organization, security, and productivity.
Essential apps for all new Mac owners
As soon as you switch from PC to Mac, you realize that sadly not all apps you loved and used daily are available on macOS. So naturally you need to find suitable replacements. The good news is Mac has an abundance of great apps for everything you need. But how do you choose and decide which ones are worth your time?
That’s where a platform like Setapp becomes indispensable. Setapp is a collection of more than 150 essential apps and utilities for Mac that cover all possible use cases and scenarios. All apps in the collection are automatically updated to their latest versions and new apps are added regularly. It’s a godsend for new and seasoned Mac users alike. Discover new apps that are the best at what they do? What’s not to like?
Try all these apps for free
Get around browser restrictions to enjoy your web journey with useful apps for Mac users
Here is an essential introductory set of some of the apps featured on Setapp that every new Mac users should have.
Bartender
A lightweight utility performing a vital role, Bartender keeps your menu bar clean and tidy. As you use your Mac more and more, every new app would want to be featured in your menu bar (top-right corner). This quickly becomes unsustainable, and instead of a quick access to the apps you need, you’ll spend more time just trying to find the right one.
Mac’s default organization settings for menu bar are quite basic, only allowing you to reshuffle icons. Bartender lets you hide them under a single icon and feature just those you need to use right at the moment.
Ulysses
Lauded as the best writing tool for years, Ulysses features a clean interface and lets you focus on the writing process, whether it’s for simple notes, speeches, or anything in between. And the app’s Markdown support makes it much more web friendly, allowing direct exports to WordPress and Medium.
Disk Drill
No one ever wants to lose their files, no matter whether it’s due to physical damage or accidental deletion. Disk Drill solves that problem by essentially insuring and giving you the option to recover your files. As the most widely used data recovery tool around, Disk Drill helps you back your files on a regular basis and save lost files from damaged hard drives if things ever go south.
CleanMyMac X
The ultimate Mac optimization app, CleanMyMac X keeps your Mac free of any junk, safely and completely uninstalls old apps, and protects you from being affected by malware. Just launch CleanMyMac X once a month to do a complete scan of your computer and you’ll ensure your Mac’s top condition.
Best of all, Bartender, Ulysses, Disk Drill, CleanMyMac X, and all other apps featured on Setapp are available to you on a free trial. Just launch Setapp and try out as many apps as you want, turning your transition to Mac from a chore to a pleasurable discovery.
Internet Explorer For Mac Download 2019
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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