According to the latest report, as the IE browser is about to be retired on June 15, 2022, Microsoft has introduced two more enhancements to the IE mode in the Edge browser to improve productivity. These improvements are rolled out directly in response to customer feedback.
With the end of support for IE looming, IE mode built into Microsoft Edge has been rolled out to help businesses make the transition. With IE mode, users can access classic IE-based websites and applications while enjoying a more modern browsing experience.
However, IE Mode still brings improvements less than three months after IE’s retirement. These improvements include restoring IE’s COM object calls and implementing two-way cookie sharing.
Restoring the original functionality of IE COM objects has been prioritized and is now being widely deployed. IE COM objects are an important part of many applications and workflow functions. Using IE or a combination of Microsoft Edge with IE mode, these scenarios work as expected. However, such scenarios break when IE stand-alone is disabled.
The developers raised the issue and introduced and deployed enhancements to IE mode. Therefore, users of the latest Windows 11 and Windows 10 updates have restored the original functionality of the IE COM object. This will continue to work even after the IE 11 desktop app is disabled.
Another big improvement in IE mode, especially for organizations that are in the process of modernization, is two-way cookie sharing between modern and classic engines. IE mode in Microsoft Edge extends the use of classic apps even after IE is retired. The ability to access both classic and modern websites in one browser should aid businesses in their modernization efforts.
Previously, cookies in IE mode only allowed session information to be shared from websites using modern engines to websites using classic engines. The reverse is not allowed. This creates problems for organizations planning to modernize.
Recognizing the importance of sharing correct data between websites in workflows involving both modern and classic websites, SSO scenarios for sharing credentials between websites and engines have been unlocked. Users can now manually set cookies to share session information bi-directionally from modern to classic and from classic to modern.
Additionally, manual control of cookie sharing is incorporated into the cloud site list management experience in the Microsoft 365 admin center. This allows users to identify specific sites within their cloud hosting sites in order to allow cookies to be shared if necessary.