Edge-News: End of Legacy Edge, Problems with Updates, IE Redirection to Edge

[German]As of April 13, 2021, Microsoft will remove Legacy Edge from newer Windows 10 builds. Could there be any problems? Another issue is the effect that Internet Explorer is immediately redirected to the new Edge at startup. In an omnibus post, I take up some of these issues around Edge.

Legacy Edge will be removed on April 13, 2021

Just a reminder to users and administrators of older Windows 10 clients that the days of the old Legacy Edge are counted. After all, support for the Microsoft Edge legacy desktop app has already ended on March 9, 2021. After March 9, 2021, the Microsoft Edge legacy desktop variant will no longer receive new security updates.

(Source: Microsoft)

Microsoft will therefore remove Legacy Edge in older Windows 10 builds on the next patchday on April 13, 2021 through a cumulative update. I had already pointed this out in February 2021 in the article Windows 10: Legacy edge browser to be removed via update in April 2021. And in the blog post Windows 10 1809/1909: Preview Updates (March 25, 2021), the following is already noted for Windows 10 version 1909:

Removes the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application that is out of support and installs the new Microsoft Edge. For more information, see New Microsoft Edge to replace Microsoft Edge Legacy with April's Windows 10 Update Tuesday release.

For newer Windows 10 versions 2004 / 20H2, update KB5000842 has been deployed (see Windows 10 2004/20H2: Preview Update KB5000842 (March 29, 2021)), which also removes Edge. For the other Windows 10 builds still in support, the upcoming security update should also remove Edge Legacy on April 13, 2021.

Issues with removing Edge in ISO installation images

At this point, a note to administrators in corporate environments using custom ISO installation media (I hadn't addressed it here on the blog yet, but had seen it here and on the agenda). Devices with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO images may experience issues related to the Edge browser. There, the Microsoft Edge Legacy may be removed by the March 2021 cumulative (preview) updates, but not automatically replaced by the new Microsoft Chromium Edge variant.

Microsoft had announced this on the Windows 10 20H2 status page on March 29, 2021. This affects clients of Windows 10 2004/20H2 as well as their server counterparts. Here is the text:

Devices with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO image might have Microsoft Edge Legacy removed by this update, but not automatically replaced by the new Microsoft Edge. This issue is only encountered when custom offline media or ISO images are created by slipstreaming this update into the image without having first installed the standalone Servicing Stack Update (SSU) released March 29, 2021 or later.

Note Devices that connect directly to Windows Update to receive updates are not affected. This includes devices using Windows Update for Business. Any device connecting to Windows Update should always receive the latest versions of the Servicing Stack Update (SSU) and latest cumulative update (LCU) without any extra steps.

Devices that are patched via Windows Update should not be affected. This is because the bug has been fixed by an updated Servicing Stack Update (SSU). According to Microsoft, those who rely on self-created ISO installation images should slipstream the latest Servicing Stack Update (SSU) into the image. Then the problem of the new Edge not being installed will not occur. Anyone who has run into the problem of removing the old Edge but not installing the new Chromium Edge can download the new Edge browser from this page and have it installed.

I hadn't addressed it here on the blog either, with Chromium Edge, version 89 ran into the problem of the browser not closing after the March 2021 updates. This is due to the Startup Boost function, as Microsoft wrote in this Techcommunity post. The feature has been disabled by Microsoft in the meantime.

IE 11 is immediately redirected to Edge

Blog reader Hans T. had emailed me on March 25, 2021 because his Internet Explorer 11 seemed to be taking on a life of its own and calling Edge directly. Hans wrote in response.

I still use Internet Explorer 11 because it has some features that Edge does not. As of this morning, my IE11 no longer works. When I want to start IE11, Edge opens automatically. I've been looking for the cause for some time, but I can't find a solution. Has Microsoft made another mess here?

I was not aware of a new "mess", I suspected a compatibility redirect and wrote: "there was a hint on the blog some time ago that IE 11 should be redirected to Edge". At the same time I referred Hans to my blog posts Internet Explorer: Compatibility redirect to Microsoft Edge and Redirect Stop redirection of non compatible sites from Internet Explorer to Edge. Apparently I had the right hunch, because Hans got back to me hours later with the resolution:

Now I have tested many possibilities, and may have found the cause of the problem. One thing I noticed: In a folder on the desktop I have 16 shortcuts. 13 of these shortcuts open and display flawlessly in IE11.

Only 3 shortcuts are opened with Edge. These 3 shortcuts are connected to Web.de. In IE11 I have set up the Web.de page as the start page. Again, when I click on IE11, the Edge comes up immediately.

It looks like the whole problem has something to do with Web.de. I will do nothing at first and wait if something changes at Web.de. If there is new information, then I will send you a mail.

I never heard anything about it again, but exactly the above mentioned compatibility redirection to Edge might be responsible for the described effect. Maybe the observation will help someone else.