Applies ToOffice 365 operated by 21Vianet Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Small Business Admin Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Admin

Note: This article applies only to Office 365 operated by 21Vianet in China.

This topic lists the Microsoft 365 browser-related tasks that you can do by using Internet Explorer1 on a desktop or laptop computer.

Important: Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, and Internet Explorer 8 are not supported.

Here’s a summary of Microsoft 365 browser-related tasks that can be done in specific versions of Internet Explorer:

Version

Summary

Internet Explorer 10

Depends on the operating system:

  • Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7:

    • 32-bit version can be used for all Microsoft 365 tasks

    • 64-bit version can be used for almost all Microsoft 365 tasks

  • Windows 8: Internet Explorer for the desktop must be used for some Microsoft 365 tasks2

Internet Explorer 9

  • 32-bit versions can be used for almost all Microsoft 365 tasks

  • 64-bit versions can be used for most Microsoft 365 tasks

This table lists browser tasks and shows which ones can be done in specific versions of Internet Explorer.

Area

Task

Supported

Sign in

Sign in

Yes

Sign in by using single sign-on4

Yes

Email

Use Outlook Web App to read email messages

Yes

Offline access by using Outlook Web App

Internet Explorer 10

Check the spelling of email messages5

Internet Explorer 10

Files

Use Word for the web to view and edit files6

Yes

Use Excel for the web to view and edit spreadsheets6, 7

Yes

Use PowerPoint for the web to view and edit notebooks6

Yes

Use OneNote for the web to view and edit notebooks6

Yes

Collaborate

Design a public website

Yes

Use SharePoint Online to view files

Yes

Use SharePoint Online to check out and modify files

Yes

Use features that require ActiveX Controls6, 8

Yes

Use site mailboxes

Yes

Digitally sign a document6, 8

Yes

Export items to Project Server6, 8

Yes

Export to Excel6, 8

Yes

Synchronize lists of events and contacts with Outlook6, 8

Yes

Communicate

Join a Lync Meeting by using Lync Web App9

Yes

Use computer-based audio, video, application viewing, and application sharing by using Lync Web App10, 11

Yes

Administer

Office 365 Enterprise and Office 365 Midsize Business: Use the Microsoft 365 admin center

Yes

Office 365 Small Business: Use the Microsoft 365 portal

Yes

Use the SharePoint admin center

Yes

Use the Exchange admin center

Yes

Use the Lync admin center

Yes

1 Internet Explorer 10 and Internet Explorer 9 aren’t available on all Windows operating systems. We recommend that you use the following browsers with their respective operating systems as shown:

  • Internet Explorer 9: Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista.

  • Internet Explorer 10: Windows 7 and Windows 8.

2 There are two Internet Explorer experiences in Windows 8: Internet Explorer and Internet Explorer for the desktop. Internet Explorer is the default browser for touch-first, immersive experiences. Internet Explorer for the desktop provides a more traditional window-and-tab management experience.

4 Doesn’t apply to Office 365 Small Business plans.

5 In previous versions, Outlook Web App had built-in spell-checking. The latest release of Outlook Web App relies on the web browser for spell-checking. Internet Explorer 10 provides spell-checking, but Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 8 don’t.

6 Requires ActiveX Controls, which are available only in 32-bit versions of Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 9, and Internet Explorer 8.

7 Lync Web App is supported on 64-bit versions of Internet Explorer only on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 (SP1). For more information, see Supported platforms for Lync Web App for Lync 2013.

10 For Windows 8, the plug-in that’s required to use computer-based audio, video, and application viewing and sharing can be installed only if you’re running Internet Explorer for the desktop. These features aren’t available with Internet Explorer 10.

11 Computer-based voice and video aren’t available on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 operating systems.

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