Microsoft to phase out Internet Explorer with newer Edge browser

An update will begin to replace its 27-year-old predecessor from Tuesday

Internet Explorer, for years the principal way of accessing any website for a generation of computer users, is to go the way of the dancing baby screensaver and the floppy disk.

Microsoft is killing off the outdated browser's desktop app after nearly 30 years with the release of an update to its newer Edge browser on Tuesday. Users will be redirected to Edge and further updates due in the summer will scrub away signs of the dead browser from start menus and taskbars.