Enable and configure IE mode for Microsoft Edge

Some websites, such as our Workflow v2 site for CMC uses the Active X control to display the image for a document. Microsoft Edge does not support the Active X control, so IE mode will need to be utilized to view properly.

Getting started

• Determine whether change is to be made for local user or for domain

• Have admin access to workstation and/or domain

• For in-depth information on IE mode and Microsoft Edge, please refer to the following link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode

• Download Microsoft Edge from Microsoft’s official page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge?&OCID=AID2001290&msclkid=587208aa81761e1fd18257c13a802ecb

• Download for IE Mode Safe Site Manager v2: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49974

• Download Microsoft Edge Policy Template: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download

Create and Configure “SafeSite”

To begin using IE mode, you will need to download, create, and deploy a “Safe Site”. Edge will use the Safe Site to look for listed sites and will display in IE mode if the website is found. You may use the Safe Site Manager to easily generate an XML that Edge will use or it can be created manually.

If manual, the following schema is used for the Safe Site list:

If using the Safe List Manager, download with the link provided in the Getting Started section at the top of this page, then open the application to begin.

To add a new site, click the Add button at the bottom left.

Enter the URL, but no need to put the HTTP or HTTPS, modify the desired options, then click Save.

Once all sites have been added, click File, then Save to XML

Save the XML locally if configuring for a single user or workstation. Save in a domain location if configuring for a company domain.

Download Edge Policy Template

With the Safe Site XML created, it is now time to set the policy for Edge to use, that will force the use of the Safe Site you generated. To do that, Microsoft Edge requires use of their policy template, which can be downloaded here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download

Once downloaded, use this Microsoft page to learn how to properly install: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/configure-microsoft-edge

Configure Edge Policy

1. Open the Group Policy Editor

2. Click Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge.

3. Double-click Configure Internet Explorer integration.

4. Select Enabled.

5. Under Options, set the dropdown value to

   • Internet Explorer mode if you want sites to open in IE mode on Microsoft Edge

   • Internet Explorer 11 if you want sites to open in a standalone Internet Explorer 11 window

   • None if you want to stop users from configuring Internet Explorer mode via edge://flags or through the command line

6. Click OK or Apply to save this policy setting.

Configure using the Configure the Enterprise Mode Site List policy

You can also configure IE mode with a separate policy for Microsoft Edge. This additional policy allows you to override the IE site list. For example, some organizations will target the production site list to all users. You can then deploy the pilot site list to a small group of users using this policy.

1. Create or reuse a Site List XML

   1. All sites that have the element <open-in>IE11</open-in> will now open in IE mode.

2. Open Group Policy Editor.

3. Click Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge.

4. Double-click Configure the Enterprise Mode Site List.

5. Select Enabled.

6. Under Options, type the location of website list. You can use one of the following locations:

   • (Recommended) HTTPS location: https://iemode/sites.xml

   • Local network file: \\network\shares\sites.xml

   • Local file: file:///c:/Users/<user>/Documents/sites.xml

7. Click OK or Apply to save these settings.

Test

Once all policies have been set and the Safe Site list is configured, it’s time to test to make sure the websites configured actually open in IE mode.

Navigate to one of the websites placed on the list and to confirm it’s opening in IE mode, you will see the IE symbol to the left in the URL.

If you don’t see that IE symbol, here are a few things you can check:

• The website is on the Safe Site List

• The list is in an accessible location for the user

• The policy set is active.

  • Can confirm the active policies in Edge by going to edge://policy

• The content is not being blocked

  • Click the lock icon and go to Site Permissions
    

    

  • Allow the settings that may be blocked
    

    

  • You’ll then need to refresh the page to see the updates
    

    

After testing and all looks good, you should be all set! As mentioned before, if more information is needed on Microsoft Edge and/or IE Mode, please refer to Microsoft’s official documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode