I'm starting to see a number of users who are having problems opening versions of Outlook that are years newer than Internet Explorer 4.
I can´t open Outlook 2010, I have Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 9. When I try to open Outlook, an error dialog says "this functionality requires Internet Explorer 4.0 or above. You can download it from Microsoft website".
When you receive this error message, it indicates the Internet Explorer version keys are corrupt.
Open the registry editor and change the values for the Internet Explorer reg key. They should be at or close to the following values if you have Windows 8 (and higher than 5). Window 10's Internet Explorer is Build 916299, Version 9.11.16299.0.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
Build = 98112
MkEnabled - "Yes"
Version = 9.0.8112.16421
Do It For Me
If you don't want to edit the registry yourself, you can use the following prepared registry file. To use, download it and double click to run. Note: If you use FireFox, you'll need to change the extension to reg.
For IE 8 For IE 9 For IE 10
From Windows 10 Registry
Tip: you can open *.reg files in Notepad to view the keys and values they change.
Omar says
I am having this same issue, doing the above didnt solve the problem. keys are exactly the same.
On another issue, I have outlook deletes emails from my gmail, even when I have "Do not delete from server" option set. I tried every forum and searched many links,,, no hope. I am running win 7 home 64 and outlook 2007.
Diane Poremsky says
On deleting - what is gmail's settings for handling deleted items set to?
What version of IE do you have installed?
Sharon Jackson says
I have this problem also, and I have tried all of the fixes... what else can I do?
ankit says
you are a life saver man!!! thanks
Tony Thurogood says
Have a look at my fix
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2007-outlook/try-to-run-microsoft-outlook-2007-then-it-says-you/cda6fa85-d0d7-463c-94d0-5913d4122562
PC running 64bit OS and had 32 bit office
Check the Registry path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Internet Explorer and the correct version of IE was updated there.
Check the registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/wow6432node/microsoft/internetexplorer - also enter the version and then launch Outlook and it fixed the problem
Kerry says
HI Diane, I also have this same problem.
Sean says
This still does not work for me. Windows 7 64bit with MS365 Office 2013 32bit installed. IE9 is also installed and all registry settings are as you have posted. I've also attempted this under a newly created windows account on the computer with no better results (both windows and outlook accounts were newly created on the PC).
Diane Poremsky says
I'm out of ideas, but the fact that there are two people with problems, leads me to think there is a bug, probably with something unique on your computers. I'll see what i can find out.
John says
Hi Diane,
I can now say yes I have tried using the registry as instructed and rebooted the computer. And no it did not change, it still gives the same message. Any more ideas?
Hope you had a great Christmas and are going to have a safe and Happy New Year!
John says
Hi Diane,
I have not changed the registry files due to having 10.0.10 installed as well as IE 11. Would it be ok to change IE9 Registry? IT shows currently 9.10.9200.16721 should I set it back to the lower number?
John says
Been there done that, Windows 7, Office Professional 2010 64 bit system. This all started for me on the Nov 19th Automatic Updates. Been trying ever since to figure it out. Uninstalled the updates, no change, found that IE 9 was downloaded but not installed although the registry shows 9.10.9200.16721 also svc update version 10.0.10. In the Windows Features it shows Internet Explorer 11. Checked or Unchecked no difference. Cannot find IE 10, IE 9, IE 8, cannot install or finish installation of ie9. I have uninstalled office professional 2010, reinstalled thinking it would correct the registry if that was the issue and it made no changes. Try to open .pst file gives same message requires 4.0 or later. Tried Microsoft Fix it, nothing.
Call me Mr. Frustrated! Any Ideas, thanks.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!
Diane Poremsky says
I hate this error :) Did you try using one of the registry files I have available? You may need to reboot for the change to take effect (for either the reg file or the Microsoft Fixit)
Mary says
Not one of these solutions works for me, my registry already had the correct values and these changes didn't resolve the Outlook 2010 issue ("requires Internet Explorer 4.01 or greater"). Obviously I have IE10 and the registry reflects that. Everything on the search engines gives this exact advice, but nothing for the many people for whom this solution doesn't work. I've tried reinstalling as much as I can (don't know how to reinstall IE10, there doesn't seem to be a way to do that), and for some reason you're unable to download Office 2010 anymore, so I'm afraid to uninstall that at all. Thank you.