Can you add Internet Explorer to a Chromebook?
As the popularity of Chromebooks continues to rise, many users are curious about the possibility of adding Internet Explorer to their devices. While Chromebooks are primarily designed to work with Google’s Chrome browser, it is possible to install and use Internet Explorer on a Chromebook. In this article, we will explore the steps and considerations involved in adding Internet Explorer to a Chromebook.
Firstly, it is important to note that Internet Explorer is not officially supported on Chromebooks. However, there are alternative methods that allow users to access the classic web browser on their Chromebook. One of the most popular methods is to use a Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu, which can be installed on a Chromebook.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add Internet Explorer to a Chromebook using Ubuntu:
- Enable Developer Mode on your Chromebook. This can be done by holding down the ‘Esc’ and ‘Refresh’ keys while the device is booting up. Select ‘Developer mode’ from the menu that appears.
- Next, enable ‘Linux (Beta)’ from the Chrome OS settings. This will allow you to install and run Linux distributions on your Chromebook.
- Once Linux is enabled, open the Linux terminal by clicking on the Linux icon in the shelf (the row of icons at the bottom of the screen).
- Update the package lists by running the following command: `sudo apt update`
- Install the necessary packages for installing Internet Explorer by running the following command: `sudo apt install wine wine-mono wine32`
- Download the Internet Explorer installer from Microsoft’s website. You can find it here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/internet-explorer-11-for-windows-7-details.aspx
- Extract the downloaded file to a folder on your Chromebook.
- Open the extracted folder and run the installer using Wine. This can be done by right-clicking on the installer and selecting ‘Open with Wine Windows Program Loader’.
- Follow the installation instructions provided by the installer to install Internet Explorer on your Chromebook.
After installing Internet Explorer, you can launch it from the Linux desktop or by searching for it in the Chrome OS search bar.
While this method allows you to install and use Internet Explorer on a Chromebook, it is important to note that it may not provide the same performance or compatibility as running the browser on a traditional Windows or Windows 7 machine. Additionally, you may encounter some limitations or issues while using Internet Explorer on a Chromebook.
In conclusion, while it is possible to add Internet Explorer to a Chromebook using alternative methods, it is not an officially supported feature. Users should be prepared for potential limitations and should consider the benefits and drawbacks before attempting to install and use Internet Explorer on their Chromebook.
