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Slow rendering in Internet Explorer 11 for document modes from before Internet Explorer 9

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Warning

The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

This article provides the information to solve a slow rendering issue in Internet Explorer 11.

Original product version:   Internet Explorer 11
Original KB number:   3071916

Symptoms

In Internet Explorer 11, you might experience slow rendering when websites are displayed in Internet Explorer 5 Quirks mode or in Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 document mode. This issue occurs only when the website does not belong to the intranet site zone or to the LocalMachine zone.

Cause

This issue may occur when the Natural Text Metrics setting is used. This setting is turned on by default for all security zones except intranet and LocalMachine when Internet Explorer 11 is using nonstandard document modes such as Internet Explorer 5 Quirks, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:

  • Use the latest available document mode.

  • Move your website to the intranet security zone.

  • Enable the FEATURE_FORCE_NATURAL_TEXT_METRICS registry key. Do this in the following location:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_FORCE_NATURAL_TEXT_METRICS  
"iexplore.exe"=dword:00000000

More information

Using the FeatureControl key will disable Natural Text Metrics for all websites. If you want to change this feature for a particular website, put the site into the intranet zone instead of setting the feature control key.