You just aren't getting it. Windows updates are removing and preventing reinstallation of Internet Explorer.

@Fairviewdjc 

Which QB Desktop year version and Windows 10 version do you have? 

Thanks for taking the time to reply to me. I'm not sure how to respond to your advice however, since I've already done what you've asked. You see Microsoft wants to remove IE 11, and the latest OS upgrades do this. So having QB require use of IE 11 is a lost cause, and asking users to workaround Microsoft's decision to expunge IE 11 is also a lost cause. The only clear solution is for QB to move off the dependence on IE 11. I like many others must move off QB Desktop, as there is no other option. 

You literally just saved my sanity! Thank you for posting this!

QB Desktop 2021 Enterprise & Windows 10 version 20H2

@Fairviewdjc 

Half of our team is still running QBD 2021 Enterprise on Win 10 v20H2 with no issues till now. We dare not upgrade to 21H2 or Win 11. Consider to clean install your QBD.

https:// quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/install-or-update-products/clean-install-quickbooks-desktop/00/201980

Another option, install the 2015 or 2019 QBD trial license to trigger it to install IE. This workaround didn't work for everyone.

Thank you. This worked for me perfectly. Wonder why QB Support doent't show your simple steps to get us back working.

Here's the real question- what to do after 6/15/22 when Microsoft disables IE????????  (see https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/05/19/the-future-of-internet-explorer-on-windows-10...)

"Over the last year, you may have noticed our movement away from Internet Explorer (“IE”) support, such as an announcement of the end of IE support by Microsoft 365 online services. Today, we are at the next stage of that journey: we are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge. Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications. Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge. With Microsoft Edge capable of assuming this responsibility and more, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10."

As noted in another post by Intuit (on this Q&A Site):

"Nice to have you in the Community. Allow me to guide you on exporting from QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Desktop. 

The reason why your gear icon is disappearing is that Internet Explorer is discontinuing support with our products. Meaning Internet Explorer 11 and Safari 10 will no longer work with QuickBooks due to the browsers using an older technology. You can reference this article about the Discontinued support if you would like more information."

Scotley, I think I love you!  I have wasted literally hundreds of hours over the last couple of weeks trying to get back into my Quickbooks due to this problem, and now I finally have, thanks to your help. Bless you!!!!

Thankfully IE does not have to be your default web browser to open QB desktop.  My QB desktop 2022 opened fine after just reinstalling IE 11 app.

Started receiving the IE error this morning after running the latest Windows 10 update.  IE should not be needed for any program to run in 2021. Any need for IE should have been removed from applications after Microsoft lost the Federal lawsuit in 1999 over IE8.

I cant send feedback through QB desktop because it won't open at all since MS erased Internet Explorer from my machine.  This is the only way those of us who have been locked out can give you feedback.

@ArchRose 

Explore this workaround shared by @Mike Vail

This is a quick follow-up to help those of you on this thread who lost their Internet Explorer capabilities on their Window 10 Home software as a result of a Windows update to removed it. I too lost IE and that's when I began having problems running Quickbooks. and began receiving the infamous " You need Internet Explorer" error when starting Quickbooks.

I did everything I could to restore IE on the PC and have even been emailing Microsoft' product team who are responsible for helping clients move their IE apps to Edge.

To be clear, users should still be able to go to the apps area of Windows 10 and enable Internet Explorer, but many can not any more. Checking the enable box doesn't work after the ghost update broke that feature for some users.

Nothing worked until today decided to try one more thing to get Internet Explorer up and running again on test PC the was broken by the update. From the affected computer, I downloaded the Microsoft Windows 10 Media Creation tool ( ) and from the affected PC, I ran the option to: "Create Windows 10 installation media"using the " " button near the bottom of the page. Once it downloaded I ran the tool and chose to update the PC I was working on rather than create new media. During the process, I made the selection to keep all my existing files and programs. The tool worked its magic for about 45 minutes and when it was done, I was able to go into the apps area and successfully re-enable Internet Explorer. Upon doing so, Quickbooks 2011, 2014 an 2021 all worked again on this PC.

Help,   after following the instructions to add the app,  it continues to tell me app failed and will not load.   Any idea if I need to change a setting somewhere?   As of now I can not use my quickbooks.

Thank you for responding in this thread, Summer H.

I'd like to help and make sure you can use your QuickBooks Desktop.

After you added Internet Explorer, you also have to make sure to update it the latest version of Internet Explorer, IE 11. If you're using Internet Explorer 10 or or versions older. You can check out this link to help you update it: Upgrade Internet Explorer to open QuickBooks Desktop.

Once done, you need to set Internet Explorer to be your default browser.

Here's how:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Select the Gear icon in the upper right corner (or click Tools).
3. Click on Internet Options.
4. Go to the Programs tab.
5. Under Default Web Browser click the Make Default button.
6. Select OK.

You may now proceed with the next steps on this article under Verify Internet Explorer Settings: Verify and Troubleshoot QuickBooks Desktop and Internet Explorer settings.

I'm adding this article just in case you'll have trouble accessing QuickBooks Desktop: Fix common problems and errors with the QuickBooks Desktop Tool Hub.

Get back to me and click the Reply button below if you still need further assistance. I'll keep an eye on your response. Have a good day.

You can no longer download IE 11.  I've tried to get it directly from Microsoft and they have completely disabled it.  Quickbooks needs to fix their program to use ANY web browser (or someone's "default").  Internet Explorer is no longer on people's computers after the most current "update" and you can no longer download it.  Period.

Please repair Quickbooks so we can open our programs and get back to business.

Thanks much

@Lisa in Iowa @Summer H 

If you are located in the US, you can contact an IT support company to help resolve this issue. Make sure to get their guarantee to refund your fee if they fail to install IE on your machine. Their fee starts from $30 per month for one computer. Their support hours are 13/7 including weekend/holidays.

You are missing the point - I can install Internet Explorer (there are several work around mentioned in this chain) but IE  iS NOT SECURE- ITS A WELL KNOW SECURITY RISK IN YOUR COMPUTER. Microsoft has already indicated they are no longer supporting it and next year they are pulling it.  The question is WHY is QB selling a product that requires you to use a insecure browser?  Why are they not fixing that?  The only answer i have found is distressing - and tells you a lot about INTUIT and QB- because they are trying to force you to subscription model. 

This is NOT an IT issue.  This is a QB relying on IE11 which is now UNSUPPORTED and being DELETED completely from computers using Windows.  Microsoft had warnings about IE no longer being supported as of June 2022 but for some reason they have decided to completely delete it with the latest update.

Since I am a hoarder I was able to use my old computer (which limped along) to reload QB on it after using a thumb drive to physically transfer my QB files (I couldn't open QB desktop so I had to actually transfer them from my hard drive to the thumb drive).  Prior to doing this I DISABLED Windows updates on my old computer to make sure they don't delete IE11 off of it.  Then I was able to open QB Desktop once everything transferred and get my books on QB Online instead.  I am going to use QB Online until Intuit's engineers get this straightened out and have an update where we can use ANY web browser so this doesn't happen again.

Otherwise, unfortunately, a lot of customers may decide to use a different bookkeeping program which does allow use of other web browsers.

"...You can no longer download IE 11. ..."

NONSENSE! And all other hogwash posts.

What is so difficult to type in at Google: "ie11 download"?

The first few returns are all from Microsoft where to download it!

If that is still too difficult for some folks (assuming that you heard of the search engine Google):

(32bit)   https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40907

(63bit)   https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41628

Google it! "ie11 download" !!!

Nonsense!

"If you are located in the US, you can contact an IT support company to help resolve this issue. Make sure to get their guarantee to refund your fee if they fail to install IE on your machine. Their fee starts from $30 per month for one computer. Their support hours are 13/7 including weekend/holidays."

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@nonsense1 wrote:

Nonsense!

"If you are located in the US, you can contact an IT support company to help resolve this issue. Make sure to get their guarantee to refund your fee if they fail to install IE on your machine. Their fee starts from $30 per month for one computer. Their support hours are 13/7 including weekend/holidays."

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@nonsense1 

Any better suggestions?

Thank you Captain Obvious for that snarky remark. 

I did download IE 11 from a few different sources repeatedly and Microsoft has omitted the ever important “exe” needed to actually open the program.  Read other responses to this issue and you’ll see this is true.  This is because their latest update forces you to use Edge and literally removes and DISABLES your Windows from reinstalling IE 11.  

The “nonsense” is QB relying on a web browser which is no longer being supported.  

I'm a programmer and can tell you you're out of luck.  The way they built QB is to embed a copy of the IE11 engine into it  - so it is not like they can update a setting to use another browser.  They'd have to go back and re-engineer QB2019 - a product that will soon loose support by May 2022.  It is an antiquated programming design which leaves you to the mercy of the owner of that engine - though wouldn't fault MSFT here because they have many. many years communicated to the developer community NOT to do what QB has been doing.  So in a way, this is planned functional obsolescence and timed just right for the shiny new QB2022.  enjoy!