Why is the Internet Explorer the default browser in AWS Workspaces and not Edge?

Question

Hello,

even if I use the newest public bundle for my workspaces I have the Internet Explorer installed and not Edge. The official support of the Internet Explorer will end in the middle of June 2022. So why isn't there any bundle with Edge? That would solve a lot of problems that I have and will have.

In the public bundle that I use there is Mozilla Firefox installed but it's not possible for the users to update it because we don't give them local admin rights. And obviously Firefox isn't updated automatically.

Thanks a lot in advance,
Michaela

Accepted Answer

Hi Michaela,

Greetings from AWS : )

I see that you're concerned about the Internet Explorer getting retried and replaced by Microsoft Edge on Windows OS images. However while launching a new Amazon WorkSpace from the latest Windows bundle you don't see the Microsoft Edge installed.

Please note that the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of **Windows 10.** For more information on the same, please refer following official Microsoft article: [**The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge**](https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/05/19/the-future-of-internet-explorer-on-windows-10-is-in-microsoft-edge/).

But this retirement does not affect Windows Server Internet Explorer 11 desktop applications. For a full list of what is in scope for this announcement, and for other technical questions, please see this FAQ from Microsoft here: [**Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ**](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549).

As you'd be aware that [**Amazon WorkSpaces actually runs a Windows Server 2019**](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2021/08/amazon-workspaces-renews-windows-desktop-experience-windows-server-2019-bundles-64-bit-microsoft-office-2019/), providing a Windows 10 desktop experience which brings a refreshed Windows 10 desktop experience, and enables customers to run applications that require recent Windows versions.

Since the IE retirement announcement is for certain Windows 10 version and not Windows Server, thus currently, we have no intention to remove or replace IE on WorkSpaces as it is default to the OS. From the Microsoft announcement, they did state that IE on Windows Server (which is what WorkSpaces use) is out of scope for the retirement - meaning, IE will continue to exist and be used on Windows Server for the time being.

I trust this addresses your query, there would not be any changes needed and your WorkSpaces would be unaffected. Please do reach out if you have any further queries about this!

Have a great day further!

Answer

Hi Michaela,

On top of the answer given by VS, you can always install Edge via Group Policy automatically. Group policy runs as a privileged user so this will work even without local admin permissions.  You can find an example on how to do this here https://techexpert.tips/windows/gpo-installing-microsoft-edge/

Finally, you can test by installing Edge manually on one WorkSpace, then creating a new WorkSpace image https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/create-custom-bundle.html

I personally recommend the GPO method for every application that you have in .msi format because this is something that you do once and you don't need to update any images. You can simply replace the .msi installer on your Directory to update to new versions.

Why is the Internet Explorer the default browser in AWS Workspaces and not Edge?

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