How do I detect which version of Internet Explorer is installed?

Question

Is the best way to look under the Uninstall key of the Windows Registry? Is there a Microsoft API call which provides this info and is it supported from XP onwards?

What is the best way to detect which version of Internet Explorer is installed on the local machine?

Answer 1

You have to look in the registry, but not in uninstall key. Instead, find the key at HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer and read the value named Version.

Answer 2

If you require to know the IE version into a web application you can get the User-Agent or use javascript:

You got here a Microsoft sample of how to get the internet Explorer version http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537509(VS.85).aspx

If you require to detect the IE Version into a Desktop program with X language you need to read the Windows registry

This registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer contains the attribute Version with the IE version

Answer 3

To find IE version, open Internet Explorer and goto Help, click on About Internet Explorer.