IE View for Firefox Is Gone: Use Internet Explorer Mode Instead

Back in 2005 I used the IE View Firefox extension to open “Internet Explorer only” sites with one right-click. Today the way to do that is internet explorer mode in Microsoft Edge. This guide explains what IE View did, why it no longer works, and how to open old IE-only sites in 2026.

Quick answer: IE View no longer works because Internet Explorer 11 was retired in June 2022 and modern Firefox no longer supports old-style extensions. If a site still needs Internet Explorer, open it in Microsoft Edge with IE mode turned on. For everyday browsing, any current browser such as Firefox, Chrome or Edge handles almost all sites.

What the IE View Firefox extension did

IE View was a small Firefox add-on for Windows. It added two items to the right-click menu: “View this page in IE” on a page, and “Open link target in IE” on a link. You could also keep an “always view in IE” list, so those sites reopened in Internet Explorer automatically.

When I wrote about it, I still ran into IE-only sites daily, even as Firefox was growing fast. I also used it to check how my blog looked in both browsers whenever I changed my blog template. If I really needed IE, I used Avant Browser, a tabbed browser built on the IE engine.

Why IE View doesn’t work anymore

• Internet Explorer is retired. Microsoft ended support for the Internet Explorer 11 desktop app on many versions of Windows on June 15, 2022, and it has been permanently disabled on many Windows 10 versions.
• Old Firefox add-ons stopped working. Firefox moved to the WebExtensions add-on system in 2017, and legacy add-ons like the original IE View were left behind. See our guide to fixing incompatible Firefox extensions for more on this.
• IE-only sites are now rare. Public websites are built for modern standards. The ones that still need IE are mostly old internal business apps.

How to use internet explorer mode in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has IE mode built in, and Microsoft says it will support IE mode through at least 2029. To turn it on:

1. Type edge://settings/defaultBrowser in the Edge address bar and press Enter.
2. Under Internet Explorer compatibility, set “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode)” to Allow.
3. Restart Edge.

To open a site in IE mode on a home PC, go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Default browser, click Add a page under “Internet Explorer mode pages”, enter the address and reload the site. On work or managed PCs you may also see Reload in Internet Explorer mode in the Settings and more (…) menu. To leave IE mode, click Leave on the bar at the top of the page, or close the tab.

Microsoft’s own help page, Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge, has the latest steps for each Edge version.

Tips if a site still says “Internet Explorer only”

• Try the site in a normal current browser first. Many old “IE only” warnings are outdated and the site works fine.
• Clear the site’s cookies and cache if it keeps failing, then try again.
• For an office or government portal, ask the site owner whether a modern version exists. IE mode is a stopgap, not a long-term fix.

Testing how your site looks in different browsers

I used IE View to compare my blog in two browsers. Today you can simply install the main browsers, Firefox, Google Chrome and Edge, and use their built-in developer tools to test different screen sizes. Our list of the best Firefox add-ons for web designers has more tools for checking layouts.

FAQ

Can I still download IE View for Firefox?

The original IE View add-on was built for old Firefox versions and does not work with current Firefox. Since Internet Explorer itself is retired, there is little to open anyway. Use Edge IE mode instead.

Is internet explorer mode free?

Yes. IE mode is part of Microsoft Edge on Windows and costs nothing. You only need to turn it on in Edge settings.

How long will IE mode be supported?

Microsoft says IE mode in Edge will be supported through at least 2029, and it has promised one year’s notice before retiring it.

Does IE mode work on Mac?

No. IE mode depends on Windows components, so it is only available in Edge on Windows.