Advantages of Microsoft Edge over Internet Explorer

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If you still have a computer with Internet Explorer installed and in daily use , you're likely dealing with more problems than you realize: security vulnerabilities, lack of compatibility with modern websites, and a browser that Microsoft has effectively relegated to the dustbin of history. On the other hand, there's Microsoft Edge, the modern successor designed to take full advantage of Windows 10 and Windows 11, but also to continue opening those older applications that only worked in IE.

What's interesting is that Edge isn't just replacing Internet Explorer; it's doing so by offering a built-in, more secure, and controlled IE compatibility mode . In other words, you can continue using your business-critical legacy applications without sacrificing modern browser protections. Let's take a closer look, with clear examples, at all the advantages of Microsoft Edge over Internet Explorer and why it's worth making the switch as soon as possible, especially in professional environments.

From Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge: a change of era

For years, Internet Explorer reigned supreme in web browsing . It came pre-installed with Windows, was used in businesses, government offices, and homes, and many websites were designed almost exclusively for it. But the landscape changed: the web became more complex, modern standards and new languages ​​emerged, and above all, faster and more secure browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox appeared . IE gradually fell behind, eventually becoming a burden even for Microsoft itself.

To try and correct course, Microsoft launched Microsoft Edge in 2015 as the new default browser in Windows 10. The idea was clear: to break with IE's bad reputation and offer a modern, lightweight browser with better compatibility. The reality is that Edge took time to gain traction, but technically it represented a huge leap forward: a revamped rendering engine, extension support, improved performance, and better integration with Windows.

Even so, Internet Explorer remained installed for compatibility reasons . Many internal company applications, intranets, and legacy portals relied on technologies like ActiveX or IE-specific document modes. This made it impossible to completely eliminate it without breaking critical processes and forced many organizations to use multiple browsers . Hence the current approach: Edge as the primary browser and an Internet Explorer mode within Edge to maintain compatibility in a controlled way.

Today, the future is already decided: Desktop Internet Explorer 11 is being retired in many versions of Windows 10 , and its place is being taken by Edge with IE Mode. For the average user, this means always browsing with a modern browser. For organizations, it means being able to continue using older websites while minimizing exposure to threats.

What exactly is Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge?

The heart of Microsoft's strategy is the so-called IE mode within Microsoft Edge . It's not a separate browser, but a special mode of Edge that allows certain pages to load using the classic Internet Explorer engine (Trident/MSHTML) but encapsulated within an Edge tab . For the user, everything happens within the same browser.

This mode functions as a dual-rendering engine system . For modern websites, Edge uses the fast and secure Chromium-based engine. For legacy applications that require it, it can automatically switch to the IE 11 engine. Both experiences coexist in the same window, but are controlled by IT policies and approved site lists.

When a site opens in IE mode, a small icon with the Internet Explorer logo appears to the left of the address bar. Double-clicking this icon displays more information about how the page is loading and which compatibility mode is active. This makes it clear when you're using the "old" version of the browser and when you're using the modern version.

The key is that not all sites can use the legacy engine . Only those configured by the administrator via group policies or an enterprise-mode XML list. Anything not on that list will automatically open with Edge's modern engine, significantly reducing the attack surface and preventing users from inadvertently using IE for everything.

In managed environments, you can also activate the policy "Send all intranet sites to Internet Explorer" (actually now to Edge's IE mode), which helps internal applications continue to function as before but within the new browser, while the general Internet is visited with the modern engine.

What IE mode allows… and what it doesn't

One of the major advantages of IE mode is that it inherits much of the compatibility of Internet Explorer 11 , while omitting some particularly problematic or unnecessary components. Specifically, IE mode supports:

• All document modes and enterprise modes that used IE to render old websites.
• ActiveX Controls (like Java or the now obsolete Silverlight), something that many corporate portals still use.
• Browser Helper Objects (BHO) that some legacy solutions still require.
• IE settings and group policies related to safety zones and protected mode.
• IE F12 Development Tools when launched with IEChooser, useful for debugging legacy applications.
• Modern Edge extensions (with the exception that they cannot interact directly with the content of the IE engine).

In other words, if you have an internal application that still relies on ActiveX, BHOs, or a legacy document mode , it's very likely that it will work in Edge using IE mode without you having to touch a single line of code. This is pure gold for organizations that can't migrate everything at once.

However, to enhance security and simplify the experience, IE mode removes some features :

• Classic Internet Explorer toolbars are not supportedwhich have been a recurring vector for malware and adware.
• The following do not apply: IE navigation menu directives that controlled, for example, the menu bar or specific links.
• They cannot be used directly Edge's F12 tools on IE content; the debugging of that content still depends on the IE tools released separately.

With this balance, Microsoft ensures that most legacy applications continue to function , but at the same time removes clearly dangerous or outdated components, reducing the likelihood that the browser will become a sieve for threats.

Compelling reasons to abandon Internet Explorer and switch to Edge

Beyond compatibility, there are several technical and security reasons that explain why it makes much more sense to use Microsoft Edge than to remain tied to Internet Explorer, even if only for some tasks.

Modern architecture versus a design from 25 years ago

Internet Explorer uses a single-process or highly fragmented architecture , designed for a time when the web was much simpler. This results in less isolation between tabs and a much larger attack surface. A vulnerability in one tab can have far-reaching consequences for the entire browser process.

Modern browsers, including Microsoft Edge, are designed using a multi-process, site-isolation model . Each site (or group of sites) runs in separate processes, so a vulnerability in one page doesn't easily compromise the rest. Furthermore, Edge integrates hardware-based security mitigations , such as Intel's Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET), which makes it much harder to exploit certain vulnerabilities.

These protections are not available in IE . The practical result is that a simple vulnerability in Internet Explorer can more easily become a remote code execution, whereas in Edge it is usually necessary to chain together several flaws and bypass several layers of defense.

Edge is more difficult to exploit than Internet Explorer.

For all the reasons mentioned above, it is much easier for an attacker to find and exploit a serious vulnerability in IE than in Edge. Furthermore, IE's support for outdated technologies like ActiveX and certain BHOs ​​multiplies the potential vulnerabilities. Many of these components have become a major security headache over time.

Edge, on the other hand, benefits from a live and active security ecosystem thanks to Chromium . Any major vulnerability discovered and fixed in Chromium also ends up affecting Microsoft Edge, which in addition adds its own layers of protection, both at the browser level and in its integration with Windows and Microsoft 365.

Edge's IE mode attempts to minimize this exposure: trusted content opens with the legacy engine, but everything else is forced to use the modern engine . This means that even if you still rely on some older applications, your everyday browsing is done with the most secure technology available.

Much faster security updates

Another key factor is the update cadence . Internet Explorer is closely tied to the Windows operating system's update cycle. This means that security patches can take weeks or months to arrive, especially if they are part of large cumulative updates.

Microsoft Edge, on the other hand, has its own independent updater . This allows security patches to be deployed in a matter of days, and sometimes even hours. In an environment where threats evolve very quickly, minimizing the window of exposure makes a real difference.

In practice, this means that Edge stays much more aligned with the vulnerabilities discovered by the research community and Microsoft's own security team, while IE falls further and further behind and receives only minimal maintenance.

Research ecosystem and reward programs

The true security of a browser depends not only on the manufacturer's actions but also on the ecosystem of external, independent researchers who constantly test the software. Here again, Edge has a clear advantage over IE.

Microsoft Edge participates in bug bounty programs that incentivize researchers worldwide to find and report security vulnerabilities. Furthermore, being based on Chromium, it benefits from the entire security community surrounding this open-source project. Every vulnerability found in Chrome or other Chromium-based browsers helps, in a way, to strengthen Edge as well.

Internet Explorer, on the other hand, does not receive this level of attention or a comparable bug bounty program. The result is a very limited flow of security improvements, precisely at a time when attackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and persistent.

Integrated SmartScreen anti-phishing protection

Another distinctive advantage of Edge over IE (and other browsers) is its full integration with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen , Microsoft's technology for blocking phishing sites and malicious downloads.

According to independent analysis by CyberRatings.org, SmartScreen blocks more phishing and malware attempts than Google Chrome's Safe Browsing. Microsoft Edge leverages this protection natively and fully, while Internet Explorer can only partially integrate it due to its architectural limitations.

In day-to-day use, this means that Edge has a greater capacity to detect and block suspicious links, dangerous downloads, and fraudulent pages on the fly , especially in enterprise environments where it is complemented by policies, managed lists, and other controls.

Edge as a modern browser: performance, features, and everyday use

So far we've talked mostly about security and compatibility, but it's worth remembering that Edge, unlike IE, is a browser fully equipped for today's web . Not only can it open any modern website, but it does so with good performance and a host of advanced features.

To begin with, Edge is available on virtually all major platforms : Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Linux. This allows you to sync bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs across devices, providing an experience similar to Chrome or Firefox.

As for its engine, Edge now uses the Chromium base, which means virtually complete compatibility with current websites and access to a huge number of extensions. Furthermore, the browser itself allows you to install extensions from both the Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store and the Chrome Web Store, instantly expanding customization possibilities.

Microsoft has also emphasized practical features geared towards everyday use, such as:

• Integrated PDF file reading, with annotation options.
• Support for EPUB format and more comfortable reading of long content.
• Reading mode to clean up distractions in lengthy articles.
• Integration with online shopping toolsPrice comparison sites and automatic coupons.
• Advanced management of profiles and synchronization to separate work and personal use.

In terms of performance, Edge has been improving its memory consumption and energy efficiency, especially on laptops. And while there will always be debate about whether it's faster than Chrome or Firefox in certain tests, what is clear is that IE no longer competes in that league : it's much slower at loading complex pages and isn't optimized for modern standards.

Privacy and control: trackers, certificates, and settings

In terms of privacy, Edge offers a fairly comprehensive options panel, including a tracker blocker configurable at several levels (basic, balanced, and strict). The most aggressive mode blocks a significant portion of third-party trackers, reducing advertising tracking, although it may cause some websites to malfunction.

It also allows browsing with separate profiles , using InPrivate windows for sessions without local history, and fairly precise control over which sites can use cookies, geolocation, or other sensitive permissions. All of this is presented through a clearer and more modern interface than IE's tangled web of dialog boxes.

It's true that, compared to Chrome, Edge offers some differences in the detailed display of TLS certificates . In IE or Chrome, it was common to see quite extensive information about the certificate, validity dates, and chain of trust. In Edge, clicking on the padlock prioritizes a simpler and more direct view: who issued the certificate and whether the address is secure. For most users, this is sufficient, but for highly technical users, it might seem like a step backward compared to the previous level of detail.

Even with that caveat, the leap from IE to Edge in terms of TLS security, support for modern protocols and encryption management is very large, and browsing is much more robust against attacks targeting insecure connections.

How to truly take advantage of the switch to Microsoft Edge

If you're coming from Internet Explorer or just want to give Edge a serious try, there are several ways to get the most out of it from day one :

• Enable the use of extensions from other storesIn the extensions settings, you can allow adding add-ons from the Chrome Web Store, drastically expanding what you can do with the browser.
• Change the default search engineIf Bing doesn't convince you, you can set up Google, DuckDuckGo, or another search engine in just a few clicks.
• Sync your accountSigning in with your Microsoft account lets you save favorites, passwords, and settings in the cloud, so you can retrieve them on any device.
• Activate tracker blocking at the level that best suits your needs. If you prioritize privacy above all else, the strict level is an interesting option.
• Configure, if needed, IE mode for specific applicationsIn enterprise environments, this is done via group policy. For home use in recent versions of Edge, you can manually add pages that should open in IE mode to maintain compatibility.

With these adjustments, you go from using Edge as "the browser that comes with Windows" to having a tool finely tuned for your way of working and browsing, without losing the security and performance advantages that distinguish it from IE.

The current situation is clear: Internet Explorer has been relegated to being a compatibility layer encapsulated within Microsoft Edge . The browser that makes sense to use daily, both at home and in the office, is Edge: more secure, faster, with frequent updates, better integration with Windows 10/11, and with an IE mode that allows you to continue using older applications while gaining protection against modern threats. Those who continue browsing "without IE" are not only missing out on important improvements but are also unnecessarily exposing themselves to a risk that no longer justifies the effort.