Fix Javascript Not Working In IE11: 5 Insanely Easy Fixes [2024]

Written By Steven Arends

You are using Internet Explorer 11 to browse the internet but you notice that some web pages don’t look the way they are supposed to look. You already figured out that this is happening because of Javascript.

What you can’t figure out is:

Why Javascript is not working in IE?

Javascript is not working in IE because it is simply disabled in settings. If that’s not it, then it could be because something went wrong with the uninstallation of third-party software, like McAfee, that is interfering with javascript.

You won’t have to worry about this issue for much longer because I have experienced this issue firsthand and, as a tech enthusiast, I found a couple of ways to fix this problem.

fix-javascript-not-working-ie11

If you don’t want to wait any longer, just put on your reading glasses and read this entire article without skipping any part, otherwise, you might miss out on some important facts.

How To Enable Or Disable Javascript In Internet Explorer?

You can enable or disable Javascript in Internet Explorer as you prefer by toggling a setting called Active Scripting buried in your Internet Explorer settings. Enabling Active Scripting will enable Javascript and the opposite will disable it.

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You can turn on Javascript manually on Internet Explorer 11 by following these steps:

  • Launch Internet Explorer 11 from your desktop.
  • You need to click on the Tools menu if the menu bar is enabled. If not, you can bring up the same menu by clicking a gear-shaped icon at the top right corner of the window. You need to select Internet Options from the menu.

ie-internet-option

  • In the new window, go ahead and switch to the Security tab.

ie-security

  • You will see a lot of zones here. You can enable Javascript one by one for each of these zones, However, the zone that is important is usually the Internet.
  • Next, you will need to look for a button that says Custom level and click on that.

ie-custom-level

  • You will see a new window where you need to scroll down to the Scripting section. You will see three options here. Enabling active scripting will enable Javascript whereas disabling it will disable Javascript.

ie-enable-ok

  • After you have configured the settings, click on OK. You will be taken back to the previous window, where you need to select OK again to save the settings.

That’s all you need to do to configure Javascript settings normally. One thing to note here is that there is another radio button under the Scripting section named Prompt and if you select this, you will get a prompt window that asks for your permission every time Javascript needs to run.

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How To Fix Javascript Not Working In IE11?

You can fix Javascript not working in IE11 using many different techniques like enabling Java the Java add-on or re-registering the Javascript DLL file using cmd. If all else fails, you need to recheck other software installations like McAfee.

Before you proceed with the following fixes, make sure you have verified that Active Scripting is set to enabled in your Internet Explorer 11

Here are the methods to fix Javascript not working in IE11:

1. Make Sure Java Add-On Is Enabled

You need to verify that the add-on for Java isn’t disabled in your IE 11. You can do this by following these steps:

  • Launch Internet Explorer 11.
  • Click on the Tools button and select Manage add-on from the menu.

ie-manage-add-in

  • Here, you need to look for all Plugins related to Java and enable them.

ie-java-add-ons

2. Install The Latest Version Of Java

In order for Javascript to work flawlessly on your computer, Javascript must be properly installed and up-to-date.

You can install the latest version of Java on your computer by following these steps:

  • Launch Internet Explorer and go to the Java.com website.
  • You should see a button that says Java Download. Click on that to proceed.

java-page

  • You will be prompted with a window. Click on Agree and Start Free Download to initiate the download process.

java-download

  • After it’s downloaded, double-click on the downloaded file to run it. You might be asked for an Administrator password, so just fill it in if you see it.
  • Select Install to start the installation process and once that is done, close the installer by clicking on Close.

3. Re-Register Javascript DLL File

There might have been an error with the jscript.dll file registration so you can try doing it again to see if it fixes the problem.

You can do this by following these steps:

  • Close your Internet Explorer window.
  • Go to your Start Menu and type either cmd or Command Prompt in the search box.
  • Do a right-click on the first result and select Run as Administrator.

cmd-run-as-administration

  • In the Command Prompt window, simply type in regsvr32 jscript.dll and press the Enter key.

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  • Lastly, type Exit in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.

4. Clear Residual Files Of McAfee If Uninstalled

I know this sounds like I’m talking about another problem here, but I’m really not.

If you uninstalled McAfee and didn’t get rid of all the McAfee files then your JScript might be having issues because it’s constantly pointing to a McAfee product that is no longer available on your system.

Of course, you don’t have to worry about all this if you never installed McAfee. You can just skip to the next fix.

To fix this, simply do the following:

  • Launch any browser and go to the Google Homepage.
  • Search for McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool and click on the result from Techspot. Download the software from that website.

mcafee-webpage

  • Launch the tool when it’s installed and select which Products you want to remove. The software will remove all residual files for that particular McAfee product.

5. Switch to Compatibility View

If your main issue is that some web page elements are not showing up correctly, and none of the previous fixes worked for you, then it is highly likely that the issue is not with Javascript but with Internet Explorer itself.

You can tell Internet Explorer to show certain websites in compatibility mode by following these steps:

  • Launch Internet Explorer 11.
  • Click on the Tools button and select Compatibility View Settings from the drop-down menu.

ie-compibility-settings

  • Click on Add this website, and then type the URL of the website that is having issues and click on Add. Refresh the webpage and it should work properly now.

ie-add-this-website

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FAQ

Does IE11 support Javascript?

Yes, Javascript supports IE11 but it does not support the modern standards of Javascript. As a result, websites need to be compiled using ES5 instead of the newer ES6.

Why is IE bad?

IE is bad because web developers are no longer building websites tailored for Internet Explorer because it is more time-consuming and difficult. Moreover, Microsoft has stopped providing patches and security updates so it is prone to viruses and malware.

How do I enable cookies IE?

You can enable cookies in IE by going to Tools and clicking on Internet Options. Then, switch to the Privacy tab and under Settings, move the slide all the way to the bottom to enable all cookies. Click OK to save the settings.

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Final Thoughts

Browsers are something that both you and I use every day, so I know it can be super frustrating when it doesn’t seem to work the way it’s supposed to.

However, all you need to do when something like that happens is look for a guide on our website. I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that Javascript isn’t affecting your browsing experience anymore.

About The Author
Steven Arends is a computer science graduate and tech enthusiast with over 10 years of experience in the field. He has a vast collection of computer hardware and loves exploring the latest advancements. As a contributing author to 10Scopes, Steven shares his expertise to make the world of technology more accessible and easier to understand for all readers.

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