Earlier this morning, I rebooted my PC running Windows 10 to complete the installation of a pending update. After restarting Windows 10 PC, I tried to launch the Internet Explorer browser using the Start menu search, but the search didn’t show Internet Explorer in its results.
At first, I thought the Start menu search is not working as it should and tried to navigate to the Windows Accessories folder of the Start menu (under All apps), hoping that I can run Internet Explorer from there. To my surprise, the Internet Explorer shortcut was missing even from the Windows Accessories folder, and this was the reason why the Start menu search was unable to search for the Internet Explorer program.
If you’re also unable to launch Internet Explorer program in Windows 10 using the search, you can try out given below directions to launch Internet Explorer program
IMPORTANT: If the Internet Explorer is not showing up in the Start menu, you can try other methods out there to launch the Internet Explorer. Refer to our 6 ways to open the Internet Explorer in Windows 10 guide for directions.
Method 1 of 2
Fix to missing Internet Explorer from Windows 10
Step 1: Open Start menu, click All apps (if you can’t see All apps, refer to our All apps missing in Windows 10 guide), and then navigate to Windows Accessories folder.
Note that in Windows 10 anniversary update builds, there is no All apps button in the Start menu. You need to scroll to see the Windows Accessories folder.
Step 2: Click on the Windows Accessories folder. The Internet Explorer icon should appear here. If the Internet Explorer shortcut is showing up, you can fix the issue (Internet Explore not appearing in search results) by rebuilding the search box. To rebuild, please refer to our how to rebuild the search index in Windows 10 guide for step-by-step instructions.
And if the Internet Explorer shortcut is not appearing under the Windows Accessories folder, follow the instructions in steps given below.
Step 3: Navigate to the following folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer (on 64-bit/x64 Windows 10)
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer (on 32-bit/x86 Windows 10)
In the above path, “C” is the drive letter of the drive where Windows 10 is installed.
Step 4: Once you navigate to the Internet Explorer folder, right-click on iexplore (.exe), click Send to, and then click Desktop (create shortcut) option to create a shortcut of iexplore on desktop.
You can now click on the iexplore shortcut on the desktop to launch the Internet Explorer browser. To add it back to the Windows Accessories folder and make it available in search results, you need to complete the next three steps.
Step 5: Copy the newly created iexplore shortcut from the desktop, open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows logo and R keys, paste the following path, and then hit the Enter key to open Windows Accessories folder. When you see the confirmation dialog, click the Continue button.
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories
Step 6: Finally, paste the iexplore shortcut. Rename the shortcut from iexplore to Internet Explorer.
The Internet Explorer shortcut should now appear in the Start menu Windows Accessories folder.
Step 7: The search will not immediately show Internet Explorer in its results as the new shortcut we just added to the Windows Accessories folder is not indexed yet. Either manually rebuild the search index by following the instructions in our how to rebuild the search index in Windows 10 or wait for a couple of hours to let Windows 10 automatically index the shortcut and show the same in search results.
Method 2 of 2
Enable Internet Explorer in Windows 10
Step 1: Type Appwiz.cpl in the Start/taskbar search field and then hit the Enter key to open Programs and Features window.
Step 2: On the left pane of the window, click the Turn Windows features on or off link. Clicking the link will open the Windows Features window.
Step 3: Here, scroll down the list to see the Internet Explorer entry. Select the Internet Explorer checkbox and then click the OK button. If you are asked to reboot, restart your computer once after saving your work.
itdept cbhfl says
Yes as joanna says , many sectors such as banks are using IE explorer for their work., i uninstalled ie explorer in windows 10 now it is not installing
sederb says
I too have the same issues. I finally found ie11 but after installing it still won’t run. there’s some disk activity as though it’s loading but then nothing. checked the iexplore.exe and it’s in the right place and even appeared on the start menu but won’t run.
Once again m$ has foiled people trying to just use their system without having to change programs and end up with compatibility issues all for the sake of a change brought about by someone who wants to be (in)famous.
If only i could get my program which requires ie5.5-ie9 to run i would be happy but without setting up a virtualbox xp session i can’t do it.
Ravi says
Thanks brother & god bless you for helping us.
H Oli says
Thanks ,,life saver
Kevin says
I’m assuming you’re assuming people are not computer savvy. This is a great article for my 79 year old parents but not helpful for IT specialists…
But I do like that you take the time to make these articles and we don’t have to jump through hoops to comment on them.
Thank you :)
C. Goettler says
I’ve searched everywhere and Internet Explorer is not showing up in any of the places mentioned in this thread. I’m fairly certain I’ve deleted the .exe forever. I’ve done a system recovery too… Any help on this would be appreciated? It’s the only way PlayOn works. Ugh…what a mess…
Cynthia Young says
I don’t know who wrote these instructions for fixing IE 11 but Thank you. I been researching how to fix it for days as I need internet explorer 11 to open scheduling app for my work using 11. Your instructions were easy to follow and fix my issues. Microsoft needs better answers to fix windows 10 and there issues. They need to hire YOU!
Daniel says
My file has completely disappeared so im going to get the exe from a friend and back it up just in case they delete it again. I absolutely hate it when microsoft ram edge down peoples throats expecting us to use it because of that. Ive thought about deleting edge instead, i wont be using it.
CJ says
This issue can be fixed by following these steps;
1) Press WIN key and type in “Add an optional feature” – you can also get to this by going to Settings > Apps & Features > Manage Optional Features. Be patient, this may take a few mins for the list to load.
2) Find “Internet Explorer” in this list, click on it, and click ‘Install’
3) Reboot. Important to do this!
4) Go back to the ProgramFiles\Microsoft\InternetExplorer folder and find the ‘iExplorer.exe’
You should now be able to click on this and run it, or pin it to start, or task bar, or create a shortcut to desktop and run it from there.
brittany says
I found internet explore and followed all your instructions, but when I click on the shortcut it does not open!!!
angeldjac says
the iexplore.exe file is NOT in C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer
now what? i am having Vista and Windows 98 flashbacks … arghhh
i need IE to run Quickbooks (i am NOT going to spend $$ on new sowftware!!)
now what do i do?? is there a copy of the iexplore.exe file that i can download (yeah – that would be TOOO simple!)
Neal B. says
I hate Win 10 with a passion. Everything about it is clunky and non-intuitive. We use Win 7 at work and it is so much better than 10 in every way. I’ve converted all my home PC’s to Linux except for one laptop which must have Windows for work use. I’m stuck with W10 on that one. It took the brilliant minds of Microsoft to take a solid product (Win 7) with a wonderfully intuitive and easy to use GUI and screw it up as badly as they did with Win 8/10.
joe says
The fix for this is just install Chrome and leave Microsoft and Edge in the crapper where they belong (and I’m a lifelong Windows/IE guy).
Bob Davage says
Thank you. Microsoft sucks the balls of Google and vice versa.
Enough said.
SSS says
Very helpful however the path for me was slightly different where you have “%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories” I have “%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Accessories”
Joanna says
The iexplore (.exe) isn’t showing up at all anymore. I know Microsoft dropped their support on this a while back now, but to remove it from my library entirely is a bit extreme. My company’s antiquated IT dept refuses to move on from IE and I can’t even access their website unless it’s on IE.