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Launch Options for Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8

IE10 is a new browsing experience built in lockstep with Windows 8 to give you all the advantages that Metro style applications offer. We built that experience by extending IE’s underlying architecture to provide a fast, fully hardware accelerated browsing engine with strong security and support for HTML5 and other Web standards. IE10 also includes a desktop experience for when you are using desktop tools and wish to continue using them in your existing workflows.

Following last September’s release of the Windows 8 Developer Preview, we heard a lot about giving you the option to control which experience of Internet Explorer—Metro style or on the desktop —to launch when clicking a link in another application. In the Windows Consumer Preview, IE10 offers you that control.

By default, Windows 8 Consumer Preview opens links using the flavor of Internet Explorer that matches your current environment: if you’re running a Metro style application, following a link launches Metro style IE10; if you’re running a desktop application, following a link launches IE10 on the desktop. You can override this default behavior using the Programs tab of the Internet Properties dialog.

Screen shot of the Programs tab of the Windows 8 Internet Properties dialog showing the option for choosing how Internet Explorer opens links.

You can locate these settings quickly by using the Start screen’s search capability and searching for terms such as “links,” “launch,” or “open links.” Show below is the result of search for the term “launch.”

Screen shot of a Settings section of the Windows 8 Start search results page when "launch" is searched for. "Choose how you open Internet Explorer" is selected in the search results.

The following sections describe the available settings.

The first setting of the Browser Launch Settings (labeled “Choose how you open links”) controls what happens when you click a link in another program. Your choices include:

Options for Opening Links Behavior
Let Internet Explorer decide Launch links based on the environment you are in
Always in Internet Explorer Launch links in the Windows 8 (Metro style) environment
Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop Launch links in the desktop environment

The default for this setting is “Let Internet Explorer decide.” In other words, links will launch into the appropriate experience based on the invoking context—desktop or Metro style. Links will open in the desktop IE10 when a link is clicked from a desktop application, for example, Microsoft Word, and in Metro style IE10 when a link is opened from a Metro style application.

Opening Internet Explorer from the Start Screen

In addition to controlling how Windows opens links, the Browser Launch Settings also provide users with options on how Internet Explorer application tiles launch from the Start screen. Internet Explorer’s application tile is the default launching point for the browser on the Start screen. You create pinned site tiles when you pin sites to the Start screen. The setting “Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop” controls what happens when you click the Internet Explorer or pinned site tile.

Options for opening Internet Explorer Tiles Expected behavior
(unchecked) Launch in the Windows 8 (Metro style) environment
(checked) Launch in the desktop environment

Launch Options and Browser Defaults

IE10 is available in both Metro style and desktop experiences when it is the default browser. If Internet Explorer is not your default browser, only desktop IE is available and you cannot change IE’s Browser Launch Settings. The “Choose how you open links” option on the Programs tab of the Internet Properties dialog will be disabled (“grayed out”) when IE is not the default browser:

Screen shot of the Programs tab of the Windows 8 Internet Properties dialog showing the option for choosing how Internet Explorer opens links disabled because IE10 is not the default browser.

To change the default browser, type “default” on the Windows 8 Start screen. The Start screen will search apps, settings, and files for this term. The Apps results will include Default Programs. Touch or click it to bring up the Default Programs control panel item. From its list of options, select “Set your default programs” to display a page containing a list of programs on the left.

Screen shot of the Set Default Programs control panel item showing "Internet Explorer" selected in the list of programs and "Set this program as default" being selected.

Select “Internet Explorer” and then click or touch “Set this program as default.” This will set IE10 as the default browser on Windows 8 and enable its Metro style experience.

Conclusion

IE10 offers you a full-screen, immersive site experience. We’ve found that many people – even those with the most enthusiastic and intense browsing patterns – prefer Metro style browsing because it’s less manual and more focused on what you browse than on how you browse. That said, for some browsing, IE on the desktop continues to play an important role. The Browser Launch Settings allow you to change the default settings for a “no compromises” experience.

Try out these settings, and let us know what you think. We look forward to your feedback here and on Connect.

—Kevin Luu, Program Manager, Internet Explorer

Comments

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
    Good for powser users, but most people will not understand. I hope you'll get the default right (ie: depending on hardware where Windows is run on).

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
    More like, how about a decent plug-in engine to begin with? One that doesn't need plugins to be installed as separate apps, but as plugins inside the browser.

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
    why not just have 1 browser with two user interfaces intead of two browsers with two user interfaces....

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
    I love this post very much. But I feel the design of the address bar need improvement. For example, the google chrome has long address bar. I guess people would like ie can extend the length of address if needed. Just a thought.

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
    Just open it and go.  I don't want to "learn" a new system.

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
    I bookmark everything too. Is the main reason that I use IE, it has the best bookmark management interface among browsers.

  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
    Is there a way to upgrade IE9 to IE10? (I upgraded Windows 7 to Windows 8 but still have IE9 installed instead of 10) . Thanks in advance!

  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 27, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
    "IE10 offers you a full-screen" but full tab browsing ? full reporting to user ? and ... download page don't have progress bar and other standard features. Now , i use firefox 11 . it's very easy to use ( of course IE10 speeds is more than firefox ).

  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
    @Hector: If the Internet Explorer tile on the Windows 8 Start screen is launching desktop IE, it's because IE is not the default browser. This can occur when you upgrade from Windows 7 due to a bug in the Windows 8 setup program. Just set IE as your default browser using the procedure described in the post.

  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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    March 28, 2012
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    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
    @ieblog this icon is very nice for internet explorer main icon :) yellow in somethings refer to sloth and etc.

  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 28, 2012
    I would imagine you need recompiled versions of the desktop apps on ARM devices. Like the time you had 16 and 32 bits windows versions.

  • Anonymous
    March 29, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 29, 2012
    @mpbAustin - I disagree.  Microsoft was not clear about this at all. (please add a citation if there is a clear statement somewhere) More importantly, having a full desktop that can run all the Windows 7 apps that you currently run is what users expect from backwards compatibility. If I read your statement above correctly 100% of my current desktop apps, if I were to transfer and install them from my USB drive would all fail to install.  As far as users are concerned that is 100% failure. Now will Microsoft be smart and ship a re-compiled version of their apps? yeah, you bet... will anyone else?... not likely... or at least not likely anytime soon. I hereby proclaim that these ARM tablets will be nothing shy of an Epic Failure if this isn't fixed before RTM... more importantly issues with these ARM tablets will spread throughout the Internet, Social Networks and word of mouth and tarnish all Windows 8 Tablets (regardless if they are ARM tablets or not) I personally feel that if a workable solution to this to enable full on desktop apps on an ARM tablet, including loading existing purchased software is not "a piece of cake" that Microsoft would be better to halt all thoughts of selling the ARM tablets until this is resolved. This situation makes the broken dual desktop in Windows 8 on functioning Intel Desktop Hardware seem trivial now which is saying a lot considering no one outside Microsoft (and even many within) think that the hybrid tablet/desktop OS is actually Microsoft's biggest failure to date (and it hasn't even shipped yet!) - OUCH!

  • Anonymous
    March 29, 2012
    @ Joel From the "Building Windows 8 Blog" from February 9th: "WOA includes desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. These new Office applications, codenamed “Office 15”, have been significantly architected for both touch and minimized power/resource consumption, while also being fully-featured for consumers and providing complete document compatibility. WOA supports the Windows desktop experience including File Explorer, Internet Explorer 10 for the desktop, and most other intrinsic Windows desktop features—which have been significantly architected for both touch and minimized power/resource consumption." Is that clear enough? "WOA supports the Windows desktop experience" If you want to rad the whole post: blogs.msdn.com/.../building-windows-for-the-arm-processor-architecture.aspx Harry

  • Anonymous
    March 29, 2012
    Thanks for the link @Harry Richter.  I was one of the IE Blog readers that was trying to make heads or tails of this situation and it was certainly unclear. That link does help clarify what the truth of the matter is - now we only have to see what the marketing will be and how the consumer market reacts. I agree with all others that indicated that this scenario will be very confusing for end users that don't understand the technical complexities under the covers with the different hardware.  Unfortunately users will definitely voice their negative opinions on the lack of foresight with this design as well as the lack of warning on the packaging. e.g. I take it that Microsoft is not planning to slap a big red sticker on each package indicating that: "This device will not run any of your existing Windows software.   Though a special version of Microsoft Office and other Microsoft tools is included for compatibility purposes." Then again I think that a warning like that most certainly should be added and as a techy person whenever I'm in my local BestBuy I will be sure to do my civic duty and inform any customer (or staff member) of the problems with these devices so that they can make an informed decision. We don't want consumers suffering from yet another electronics scandal like the $3 HDMI cable markup scams that currently take place.

  • Anonymous
    March 29, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    March 31, 2012
    IE team, for IE10, can you please add a Cookies Blocked or Cookie allowed icon indicator like IE8 has? The latest Google Chrome also has it in the address bar but you removed it in your act of copying Google Chrome for IE9. I know most UI and feature-related feedback falls on deaf ears at the IE blog and Connect but still hoping you would add it back.

  • Anonymous
    April 01, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    April 01, 2012
    Why IE team , don't release new update for Internet Explore. (version update) Example : IE 10.1 OR 10.2 OR ... in every month or some months. firefox and google chrome with this policy , persuade Users to download new version of they.

  • Anonymous
    April 02, 2012
    Pen: They already do that. Latest IE version is IE9.0.5. They are security updates. Though I agree that interim releases with nothing but bugfixes (both to UI and rendering) based on the community feedback would be extremely advantageous. Right now if a IE version has some bug overlooked, it will remain unfixed until the next big version, which pinballs the design around and regresses some other things.

  • Anonymous
    April 02, 2012
    Why are there no updates available for Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 7?

  • Anonymous
    April 03, 2012
    This is all well and good but when the heck is IE10 being released to Windows 7? I mean seriously its April 2012 already.

  • Anonymous
    April 03, 2012
    @Mike W. - likely right after they fix the comment form on this !@#$!@#$ blog.

  • Anonymous
    April 05, 2012
    Does IE10 have the intrusive notification bar like IE 9 does?

  • Anonymous
    April 08, 2012
    Hi I wish to suggest improvement for IE10beta, not sure where should I post it. The UI back and forward button can be moved to the end of the URL textbox (ie the middle of the toolbar, so that it will nt interfere with Windows8 features.

  • Anonymous
    April 08, 2012
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  • Anonymous
    May 01, 2015
    im trying to click on a link that launches a new window. that window doesn't launch in ie10, but it does in Chrome. it worked on my desktop, but I was given a laptop at work and it doesn't work