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Users who are running Windows 8 on a desktop or notebook always prefer using the desktop version of Internet Explorer over the Modern UI (aka Metro-style) browser. Even though the Modern UI IE provides more screen area and works great on netbooks and touch screen devices, it isn't perfect for big screens.
As you might have noticed, with default settings, Windows 8 opens all web links in the Modern-UI Internet Explorer. For instance, when you click on a link in Twitter app or click on the pinned web pages on the Start screen Windows opens the link in Modern UI Internet Explorer. If you are a desktop or notebook user, you may want to change this default behavior.
Fortunately, there is an option present under Internet Explorer settings to always open links in the desktop version of Internet Explorer. Users can follow the below mentioned instructions to force Windows always open links in Internet Explorer desktop.
Step 1: Switch to desktop, click on the Internet Explorer browser icon on the Taskbar to open Internet Explorer. If you can't see the Internet Explorer icon on the Taskbar or desktop, simply open up your Windows drive, click Program Files, click Internet Explorer folder, and then double-click iexplore.exe file to launch Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Once IE is launched, click Tools (press Alt key to see the menu), click Internet Options.
Step 3: Switch to Programs tab, under Opening Internet Explorer section, select Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop for Choose how you open links. Click Apply button and close the Internet Options. You are done! From now onwards, all links will be opened in the desktop version of Internet Explorer.
You might also like to read our how to pin web pages to Start screen and fix modern UI Internet Explorer tile missing from Start screen.
