WordPress has released a new update (version 5.8) with better performance but has also stopped supporting Internet Explorer 11 (IE11). This doesn’t mean IE11 will be removed, but WordPress will no longer test or update features for it. If you still use Internet Explorer to manage your site, you may face security and performance issues.

In this article, we’ll explain why WordPress is dropping IE11, what this means, and how it affects you.

Why WordPress is Dropping Internet Explorer 11?

Internet Explorer 11 was once a popular browser, but now less than 1% of people use it. Because of this, many websites have stopped supporting it, and WordPress is doing the same.

For the past 17 months, WordPress has warned IE11 users that their browser is outdated. With the release of WordPress 5.8 in July, support for IE11 officially ended.

If you’re still using Internet Explorer 11, WordPress recommends switching to a modern browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.

If you already use one of these browsers, this change will improve performance and allow WordPress to introduce new features.

What Does "Dropping Support" Mean?

When WordPress drops support for a browser:

• New features won’t be tested on that browser.
• Bugs won’t be fixed for that browser.
• Some parts of WordPress may stop working properly in the future.
  

WordPress also uses automated tools to build its core files. These tools will stop supporting older browsers like IE11. As a result, some WordPress features may become buggy or unusable for IE11 users over time.

The biggest changes will affect the Gutenberg block editor, which relies heavily on these tools.

Other parts of WordPress that were designed for IE11 will either be removed or manually maintained, starting with the WordPress 5.9 update.

How Will This Affect WordPress Themes?

WordPress default themes (like Twenty Twenty-One) will not be changed. Any code for IE11 will remain in them. However, new WordPress features won’t be tested on IE11.

If you use a custom theme, check with your theme developer to see if they have also stopped supporting IE11.

Conclusion

WordPress is ending support for Internet Explorer 11 because it is outdated, lacks modern features, and very few people use it. IE11 slows down performance and limits what WordPress can do.

By stopping support, WordPress can focus on better security, faster performance, and new features for modern browsers. This change follows the trend in web development, as most websites have already moved on from Internet Explorer.

If you are still using IE11, switch to a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge to ensure a smooth experience.