# Open in IE

> Open current page or link in Microsoft Internet Explorer browser

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-internet-explorer](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-internet-explorer)

## Overview

- **ID:** `open-in-internet-explorer`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Andy Portmen
- **Category:** download-management,appearance,tabs
- **Daily users:** 13,434
- **Weekly downloads:** 359
- **Rating:** 3.58 / 5 (86 ratings)
- **Version:** 0.3.3
- **Last updated:** 2023-10-03
- **First published:** 2016-12-06
- **Size:** 74 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-10
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-in-internet-explorer/)
- **Website:** [https://webextension.org/listing/open-in.html?from=ie](https://webextension.org/listing/open-in.html?from=ie)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-in-internet-explorer/privacy/](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-in-internet-explorer/privacy/)

## Description

Open in IE is a convenient Chrome extension that enables users to open the current page or specific links directly in Microsoft Internet Explorer without manual copying and pasting URLs. Upon installation, the extension requires a minimal native client setup to facilitate communication between browsers.

If Internet Explorer is already running, links open in new tabs; otherwise, a new IE window is launched. It supports managed storage for organizational customization and allows configurable controls such as left-click with modifiers for different behavior. This streamlined tool is ideal for users needing quick access to Internet Explorer for compatibility testing or legacy web applications.

## Rankings

- #648 — Overall
- #37 — Tabs
- #51 — Download Management
- #95 — Appearance
- #1 — open vpn
- #2 — open ai

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `tabs`
- `storage`
- `contextMenus`
- `nativeMessaging`

### Content script matches

- `<all_urls>`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** High risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
- This extension has medium user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

User feedback is mixed. The add-on is praised in theory for launching Internet Explorer from Firefox, but reliability is a common issue. Several reviews report it stops working after updates, and some encounter error pages or script-related prompts. In environments with strict policies, it may fail to bypass restrictions, reducing practicality. Overall sentiment: useful when it works, but plagued by reliability and compatibility issues that limit consistent use.

### Pros

- Opens the selected tab in a separate Internet Explorer window (not inside a Firefox tab).
- Some reviewers report it works fine when functional.

### Cons

- Not reliably functional; several users report it no longer works after browser updates.
- Can show a default error page about needing to download/install third-party scripts in connection failures.
- Does not bypass organizational restrictions on using IE in enterprise environments, limiting usefulness.
- Some reviews describe the add-on as unusable or inconsistent in operation.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Open in MS Edge™ Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-microsoft-edge-browser) — 1,428 users, 4.21 / 5
- [Open in Safari](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-safari) — 496 users, 4.57 / 5
- [Open in Opera](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-opera-browser) — 257 users, 4.42 / 5
- [Open in Chromium Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-chromium-browser) — 151 users, 3.43 / 5
- [Open in IE™](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-ie-1) — 2,195 users, 2.78 / 5
- [Open in Waterfox](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-waterfox) — 24 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Open in Google Chrome Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-chrome-browser) — 4,682 users, 3.60 / 5
- [Open in Pale Moon](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-pale-moon) — 34 users, 3.00 / 5
- [Open in Vivaldi](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-vivaldi) — 102 users, 4.20 / 5
- [Open in Brave Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-brave-browser) — 379 users, 4.67 / 5
- [Open in Tor Browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-tor-browser) — 3,180 users, 3.91 / 5
- [Open in Yandex browser](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-yandex-browser) — 91 users, 3.71 / 5

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/open-in-internet-explorer)