You would have noticed that some apps and software generally no longer appear in app stores and even on your start list when you press the Windows key, for instance. This shows an effort from OS manufacturers to ensure security across all platforms and prevent outdated programs from slowing down PCs, especially when the manufacturers no longer support them. These apps should be uninstalled and eliminated from PCs completely.

One example of such retired technology is Internet Explorer. 

Retiring Internet Explorer

After many years of service, Microsoft will officially cut off support for Internet Explorer. Despite being the punchline to many jokes, Internet Explorer gave millions of people access to the Internet, although all most users did was use it to download preferred browsers such as Firefox and Chrome. 

Now that Internet Explorer has been discontinued, users who use it will be routed to Microsoft Edge in IE mode over the following several months. Rumor also has it that a future Windows Update will fully deactivate Internet Explorer on PCs.

Despite Microsoft’s warnings for years about its retirement, Internet Explorer is still utilized by some businesses and websites. This influenced Microsoft’s introduction of the IE mode to Edge to help consumers transition, allowing webpages that require old technologies to continue to work.

General Internet Explorer users will be sent to the novel Edge’s IE mode, and their data, like passwords, preferences, and favorite settings, will be imported. When visitors attempt to load a website that requires IE mode to work, a “Reload with IE mode” button will appear on the browser toolbar. You can also configure Edge to open websites in IE mode automatically.

IT experts and professionals may automate IE mode for pages, which should help businesses that rely on Internet Explorer for specific apps and websites. Administrators may also prepare a list of websites that require IE mode and have them load automatically.

Microsoft claims that IE mode in Edge will be supported till 2029.

While there are no more versions of Internet Explorer available for Windows, the browser is still supported on the following versions:

• Microsoft Windows 8.1 
• all Windows 10 LTSC releases.
• all Windows Server versions

Of course, businesses are not required to continue using IE mode or Internet Explorer. Microsoft is, in fact, pushing users to switch to Edge completely. A statement from Microsoft reads, “Rather than waiting to be transferred to Microsoft Edge, the simplest thing to do is to get started with Microsoft Edge now.”

Other Retired Tech You Need To Uninstall Today!

The following list contains popular but retired technology (other than Internet Explorer) that you should remove from your PCs today: 

Cortana 

Of course, you have heard of Cortana. Cortana’s capabilities and functions have been deprecated, especially in newer versions of Windows 10 and 11. You must have realized that you can no longer find it alongside Windows Search, which now includes additional capabilities such as widgets search and start menu search.

While you may still use Cortana to voice search to perform some basic activities, the response isn’t very good because working with this app can be constraining.

Need more reasons why you should uninstall it? It is no longer the digital assistant for Microsoft, and when you pin the app to your PC taskbar, it hogs more PC resources. 

Adobe Flash Player and Shockwave Player

Adobe Flash Player is another app you need to delete from your PC. Although Flash is now prohibited in modern browsers, it is advised you delete local copies of the software. Why? So, you don’t get hacked by a hacker newbie while it’s on your PC. 

Also, support for Shockwave Player, another Adobe runtime plugin similar to Flash Player, was recently stopped. It’s no longer available for download, and you’re unlikely to find a website that requires it.

So, ensure you uninstall both. You have better alternatives, by the way. 

McAfee Bloatware

If, like PC manufacturer bloatware, you’re stuck with many antivirus apps that take ages to update and scan, you probably have the wrong one installed. McAfee, long the go-to antivirus software, can now significantly bloat your machine. Apart from being a channel for ransomware, it can be difficult to uninstall, so be prepared. 

Basically, if your system could speak, it would dislike you for having McAfee. It wasn’t always like this, though. And what’s more, Windows Defender seems to be getting stronger with each Windows release, so you might not need external antivirus software for your home PC. 

Microsoft Silverlight

Like Adobe Flash Player. Silverlight is a web framework that lets you get rich media content in your browser. These plugins used to be the apps to have and enjoy, but now, they are the apps you need to get off your PC to make way for better updates. 

A recent report claimed that less than 0.1% of websites use Silverlight as a programming website. To support this, either Firefox or Chrome have stopped support for it for years, and it was never compatible with Edge. Only Internet Explorer currently supports it, and Microsoft has rolled out plans to discontinue support for it by mid-2022. Basically, uninstalling Silverlight will cost you nothing.

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