How to Download Internet Explorer for Mac

If you visit the official website of Microsoft, you wouldn't find Internet explorer for Mac available for download. Because the agreement between Apple and Microsoft regarding the Microsoft Internet explorer for Mac ended way back in 2003. At one time Internet Explorer Mac edition, was the default browser for all the Apple computers. Initially it had the same code base as the Internet explorer windows edition, however Microsoft later came up with a unique layout engine for the Mac edition of Internet explorer. In 2003 Apple brought its own web browser - safari and terminated its agreement with Microsoft. But still some Mac users want to download Internet explorer for Mac. Most of them are web designers and developers who need all the browsers for conducting cross-browser testing of their websites and apps. So, in the following article, we will discuss the process of downloading IE for Macintosh computers. However, here's a quick overview of whether is it even possible to download IE on a Mac. What do you think?

Can You Download IE for Mac?

Yes, you can download the Internet Explorer Mac edition. However, it is not available on the official Microsoft website. So, there are other places where you can download Internet explorer for Mac. There are some websites that are specifically aimed at aggregating and providing old apps and software. Old apps is one such website. Free software download websites like softpedia or download.cnet may also provide some versions of Internet explorer for Mac. How exactly to download and install IE for Mac has been explained here.

How to Download?

One way to do it has been explained in the above paragraph. That is, look up a web site that has Internet explorer for Mac available for download and follow the instructions there. Or you can download it from the old apps website. Although there is another way of doing it. And that is, using an app called wineBottler. It is an app that converts windows apps into apps that can used on Mac. Just download (google it) wineBottler and launch it. Now look for the option 'install predefined prefixes' and click it. Choose the version of IE you want to install. Now assign a location for the installation on your Mac and install it. That's it! Now you just downloaded Internet explorer for Mac.

Although, not all the Internet explorer versions work with stability on the Mac. Particularly, avoid the version 8 of the software. If you just want to test your websites in Internet explorer I'd suggest that you use websites like browsershots that show you screenshots of your websites in many different web browsers. You can also choose to install the last supported version of Internet explorer for Mac which was Internet explorer 5. I have already mentioned a source called oldapps for getting this version of Internet explorer for Mac.

There are many ways using which you can test your website in different browsers. But if you want to personally test your website in all the browsers along with its usability and accessibility you can try using the above methods to download and install Internet explorer for Mac. As for browsing, there are tons of better alternatives to Internet explorer that give you a better speed and browsing experience. I hope this article has proven to be useful to you.