How to Use Internet Explorer Mode in Chrome (Step by Step)

Chrome does not include an Internet Explorer mode of its own, but you can add one. This guide walks you through it with IEbridge, from the first install to URL rules that open your legacy portals automatically. It takes about five minutes and you do not need administrator rights.

If you first want to understand the options (Edge IE mode, Legacy Browser Support, extensions), read how to open Internet Explorer-only websites in Chrome.

Before you start

You need:

• A Windows computer (Windows 10 or 11, or Windows 7 and 8.1 with .NET Framework 4.6.2). The Internet Explorer engine is part of Windows, so this does not work on macOS or Linux.
• Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
• The address of the site that needs Internet Explorer.

Step 1: Add the extension

Open the Chrome Web Store, search for IEbridge and click Add to Chrome. The IEbridge icon appears in the toolbar; pin it so it is always visible.

Step 2: Install the companion application

Extensions run in a sandbox and cannot talk to Windows components directly, so IEbridge needs a small companion application. The first time you try to use IE mode, the extension shows a screen with the download.

1. Download the companion application and run it. It installs for your user only, without asking for administrator rights.
2. Restart the browser so the extension can find it.

The screen detects the application on its own and confirms when everything is ready.

Step 3: Open your first page in IE mode

Go to the site that needs Internet Explorer and use any of these:

• Click the IEbridge icon in the toolbar.
• Right-click the page and choose Open this page in IE mode.
• Right-click a link and choose Open this link in IE mode.

The page reloads inside the same tab with the Internet Explorer engine. A toolbar appears on top with back, forward, reload, the address and a button to copy it, developer tools on F12, a shortcut to the options and a button to return to Chrome's engine. Next to the address you can see which engine version is rendering the page.

Step 4: Choose the right document mode

Old sites were often written for a specific version of Internet Explorer. If a page loads but the layout is broken, menus do not open or a script error appears, the document mode is usually the cause.

In the options, under Internet Explorer compatibility, choose the default version: IE11 suits most sites, while many portals from the 2000s expect IE8 or IE7. You can also set a version for a single site, as we will see in the next step.

Step 5: Open legacy sites automatically with URL rules

Clicking every time gets tiring. URL rules make certain addresses always open in IE mode.

1. Open the IEbridge options and go to Automatic URLs.
2. Turn automatic URLs on.
3. Add the address of the portal, for example https://erp.example.com.

Each rule can pin the document mode for that address. That way one portal can run in IE8 while another uses IE11.

Exceptions

Sometimes only part of a portal needs Internet Explorer. Add the parts that already work in Chrome as exceptions: they never open in IE mode, even when a rule matches them.

Share the list with your team

Rules and exceptions export to an Excel workbook, one sheet for each, and import back in one step. There is a template with the instructions inside. It is the practical way to prepare the list once and hand it to colleagues. In a company, the Enterprise plan distributes the rules to every computer with group policy or Sync Options.

Step 6: Adjust the options that matter

A few settings solve most day-to-day issues:

• Share the session between tabs (General): keeps you signed in when the portal opens new tabs.
• Pop-up windows (Windows and tabs): choose whether pop-ups open as windows or tabs. Many portals use pop-ups for reports and signing.
• Save passwords and form data (Appearance): lets Internet Explorer's own autocomplete remember your login. Passwords stay in Windows Credential Manager on your computer.
• Edit SharePoint documents directly (General): opens Office documents from old SharePoint sites in their desktop application.

The options page in the documentation describes every section.

Troubleshooting

The icon does nothing. The companion application is not installed, or the browser was not restarted. Reopen the browser and try again.

An ActiveX control is missing. Install the vendor's component in Windows, as you did with Internet Explorer, and reload.

The page works in IE but not in IEbridge. Try a different document mode for that site. If it still fails, write to support with the address and a screenshot.

More cases are covered in common problems.

Your trial and licence

IEbridge starts a 30-day trial with every feature the first time it is used, with no card and no account. After that, a Pro licence costs $9.99 per computer per year, and Enterprise ($14.99) adds group policy, Sync Options and priority support. You activate the key from the options; see activate your licence.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need administrator rights?

No. Both the extension and the companion application install for the current user.

Does IE mode work in Incognito windows?

Yes, in Chrome, once you allow IEbridge in Incognito from Chrome's extension settings. Keep in mind that the Internet Explorer engine itself does not have a private mode, so what it stores follows Windows rules.

Can I use it in Edge or Firefox too?

Yes. The same companion application works with the Chrome, Edge and Firefox versions of the extension, and the licence is per computer.