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IE Explorer mode fails to add from options features

Doug Hottman 20 Reputation points
2025-11-25T22:20:14.96+00:00

I need IE Explorer Mode in Edge to access my security cameras. It was previously working but stopped. I do not know if this was tied to a Windows or Edge update. I went to Options Features and removed the feature, thinking that I could re-add it as possible way to correct the problem. I then tried to re-add the Optional Feature IE Mode, but it continues fails and says that it cannot add IE Explorer Mode. Edge has "Reload with IE Explorer Mode" in the menu, but when I attempt to add "Reload with IE Explorer Mode", it fails and says that it can't find IE Explorer Mode.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-11-25T22:20:23.82+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you're experiencing issues with Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge after attempting to remove and re-add the feature. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

    1. Check Windows Updates: Ensure that all required Windows Updates are installed, as missing updates can cause IE mode to malfunction. You can refer to the prerequisites for IE mode to confirm that your system meets the necessary requirements.
    2. Reinstall Microsoft Edge: If you removed the feature, it may help to reinstall Microsoft Edge with administrator privileges. You can do this by running the installer with the command: installer.exe --system-level.
    3. Enable Internet Explorer 11: Make sure that Internet Explorer 11 is enabled in Windows Features. You can check this by going to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off, and ensuring that Internet Explorer 11 is checked.
    4. Check Edge Installation Level: Verify if Microsoft Edge is installed at the system level. You can do this by typing edge://version in the Edge address bar. If the Executable path starts with C:\Users, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Edge with administrator privileges.
    5. Group Policy Settings: If you are in a managed environment, check if there are any Group Policy settings that might be affecting the IE mode configuration. You can enable or configure Internet Explorer integration using Group Policy if necessary.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

    References:

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  2. Kimberly Olaño 19,145 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-26T01:17:32.8366667+00:00

    Thanks for sharing the details, Doug! If IE components were removed or corrupted

    Run these commands (Admin CMD):

    sfc /scannow

    Then:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

    Reboot, then try adding IE capability again:

    DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.InternetExplorer~~~~0.0.11.0

    See if this helps. If you need further assistance just let me know.

    Best regards,

    Kimberly

  3. Kimberly Olaño 19,145 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-27T10:09:11.8733333+00:00

    You current Windows version doesn't support the Internet Explorer (IE11) capability. Therefore, IE Mode cannot be restored because the OS no longer contains IE components. If you upgraded to this build recently, you could roll back to the previous build (within 10 days by default). That's the best option for your case.

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