How to Find Internet Explorer Version Information

Often, technical support or program compatibility information will rely on you knowing what version of Internet Explorer you have installed. This includes both the number of the larger release--Internet Explorer 5, 6, 7, etc.--and a longer and more complicated number indicating which patches and updates have been applied to the software. Both of these numbers are easy to find within IE itself.

Accessing the "About" Window

Open Internet Explorer and click the "Help" menu, the rightmost one on the menu bar, then click "About." A screen will appear with various pieces of information about the software.

The Version Number

Check the first line of information for your version number. An example of a version number is "7.00.6000.16441."

What It Means

If all you're looking for is a single number that goes with the name, like "Internet Explorer 7," you want the first number, before the first dot. Otherwise, the following numbers can tell you specific things about your version. Visit Microsoft's "Information about Internet Explorer versions" page (see Resources) for a list of IE version numbers and what they mean.

Resources

• Microsoft: Information about Internet Explorer versions