Observed Signal · May 20, 2021 · Deprecation · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Microsoft retires Internet Explorer in 2022
Microsoft is retiring Internet Explorer after more than 25 years of service, with the legacy browser finally ending in 2022. Launched in 1995, IE was once market-leading before being overtaken by Edge and Google Chrome. Microsoft says the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 lies with Microsoft Edge, which includes IE Mode to preserve compatibility for older websites and applications. Beginning August 17, 2021, Microsoft 365 and other apps will drop support for IE, and on June 15, 2022, IE will be officially discontinued. The company emphasizes that Edge offers a faster, more secure experience and explains in a dedicated Q&A how the transition will affect users and webmasters. Users are advised to migrate to Edge or another browser by the deadline. The move highlights ongoing forces toward modern browsers while balancing legacy-site compatibility.
Moderate impact on web/browser compatibility; indirect effect on advertising tech ecosystem
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Internet Explorer launched in 1995.
- IE support for Microsoft 365 and other apps ends August 17, 2021.
- Edge includes Internet Explorer Mode (IE Mode) for legacy sites.
- Final end date for Internet Explorer is June 15, 2022.
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Microsoft ends support for 15 products in 2026
Microsoft will end support for 15 software products in 2026, affecting widely used versions of Windows and Office. Windows 11 version 24H2 will be supported only until October 13, 2026; Microsoft has already begun auto-installing 25H2 on eligible Home and Pro PCs. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote, Publisher, Visio and Project 2021) will also reach end-of-support on October 13, 2026, while Enterprise and Education editions retain support until October 2027. Microsoft Publisher will be fully discontinued and removed from Microsoft 365 after October 2026. Other products listed for end-of-support include Windows 11 SE (support ends October 1, 2026), Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2, SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, and SQL Server 2016.
Google to fully retire Manifest v2, breaking many adblockers
Google will fully disable Manifest v2 support in Chrome with versions 150 and 151 (end of June and July 2026), removing the last workaround that allowed older adblockers such as uBlock Origin to function. The company says Manifest v3 improves user privacy and security, but the API changes reduce filter capabilities relied on by many blocking extensions. Users who want to keep using older-style adblockers can switch to adapted MV3 versions like uBlock Origin Lite (with reduced functionality) or move to non‑Chromium browsers that promise longer MV2 support; Mozilla Firefox is expected to support MV2 longer, while Chromium-based browsers such as Edge and Opera may also drop MV2 in future.
Microsoft to Shut Down Outlook Lite Next Month
Microsoft confirmed it will shut down the Outlook Lite app on May 26, 2026. Launched in 2022 as a lightweight Android version of Outlook for low-storage phones and slower networks, Outlook Lite had been slated for removal from the Google Play Store in October 2025. Microsoft told TechCrunch the app will lose functionality for existing users after the May 26 shutdown and recommends switching to the standard Outlook Mobile app. Users can access their existing email, calendar items, and attachments by signing into Outlook Mobile and will be directed to the Google Play Store to download the full Outlook app. The shutdown was first reported by Neowin and is documented on an Outlook Lite support page.
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