How Do I Disable Internet Explorer on a PC

Wondering how do I disable Internet Explorer on a PC? Many people would like to remove or disable Internet Explorer because it is a target for spyware and online viruses. Before you disable IE, you should download and make sure another browser, such as Firefox, works properly. Also keep in mind that there are still some sites that will not run properly on anything but Internet Explorer.

In the newer versions of Windows, Internet Explorer cannot be removed without affecting Windows itself, since it's part of the operating system. If you've got Windows 2000 or a newer version, disable Internet Explorer instead of removing it. That way, you won't break Windows or any other programs that rely on Internet Explorer.

Changing the Proxy Server
In this method, you will be setting up a dummy proxy server. When you type in a non-existent server, Internet Explorer cannot connect to the Internet via an HTML connection and the Internet cannot connect to Internet Explorer.

1. Open Internet Explorer, then select Tools>Internet Options>Connections>LAN Settings.
2. Check the box next to Use a Proxy Server for your LAN. Type in 0.0.0.0 in the address box and 80 in the Port box, then click OK.

If you need to re-enable Internet Explorer, simply start Internet Explorer, select LAN Settings again and uncheck the Use a Proxy Server box.

Disabling the Default Status of Internet Explorer

1. Open Control Panels from the Start Menu, then open the Add/Remove Programs function. If you are using Windows XP or Vista, you may have to switch to Classic View.
2. Click the Set Program Access and Defaults button on the left side of the menu.
3. Click Custom in the Choose a Configuration area.
4. Go to Choose a Default Web Browser. Look for Internet Explorer, then uncheck the Enable Access box next to it. Click OK.