Microsoft blocks upgrade to Windows 11 from IE11 users

Microsoft is blocking the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for users who use Internet Explorer 11 as their default browser. This temporary measure should avoid data loss. Users who want to upgrade must first import their IE11 data into the Edge browser.

Microsoft took the measure in their own words because the saved data in Internet Explorer 11, after the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, will no longer be accessible due to a bug for some users. To avoid this data loss, the system now checks before starting an upgrade to Windows 11 (version 21H2) whether the data from Internet Explorer 11 has already been imported into the Edge browser. It is not clear which data is involved.

The company is only introducing this measure to Windows 10 users who use Internet Explorer 11 as their default browser, or who, according to the company, use this browser frequently. It is not clear which parameters Microsoft uses to measure this. The company will withhold the upgrade to Windows 11 for these users and withhold notifications to switch for the time being. Windows 10 users who have imported the data from IE11 into the Edge browser will be able to perform the update to Windows 11.

The company says it is working on a solution to the problem. That fix will be added in a future release of the Edge browser. However, it is not clear when it will be released.