IE11 Automatic Update Blocker Toolkit Available for Windows 7

Business and organizations that want to manage their own update schedule can use the IE11 Automatic Update Blocker Toolkit to disable automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 11. This Blocker Toolkit—like its predecessors for IE10, IE9, IE8, and IE7—is now available on the Microsoft Download Center. While we encourage all customers to upgrade their browser to the latest version as quickly as possible, this approach enables organizations to control when they are ready to deploy IE11 to their Windows 7 users. All other Windows 7 users not using the toolkit will be automatically upgraded to IE11 through Windows Update.

The IE11 Automatic Update Blocker Toolkit can be used to prevent Internet Explorer 11 from being automatically installed on users’ Windows 7 machines when it is available via Automatic Update. This Toolkit has no expiration date and is configured either by running the registry file on the client machine or by deploying Group Policy in domain joined environments. The toolkit also provides an unblock procedure that allows IE11 to be installed through Automatic Update.

When an IE11 Preview version is installed on Windows 7, the IE11 Automatic Update Blocker Toolkit does not block automatic deployment of IE11. This ensures that users running IE11 Developer Preview or IE11 Release Preview continue to receive the latest security fixes. Additionally, the toolkit does not prevent users from manually installing IE11 from the Microsoft Download Center.

There are different registry keys used to block or unblock automatic delivery of IE11, IE10 and IE9. Previous IE Blocker Toolkits for IE10 or IE9 will not block IE11 from being offered as an important update -- the IE11 Blocker Toolkit must be used to prevent IE11 from being offered via Automatic Update.

Organizations that use an update management solution such as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) do not need to deploy the IE11 Automatic Update Blocker Toolkit. WSUS and SCCM allow organizations to fully manage deployment of updates released through Windows Update, including IE11.

Jeff Pape
Program Manager, Internet Explorer