VBA & Macro Problems

How to Replace Internet Explorer VBA Automation with Microsoft Edge Tools

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to update their Excel VBA web automation scripts because standard Internet Explorer automation fails on modern web environments.

Product: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Edge
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating browser interactions, scraping data, or accessing dynamic Power Apps pages using VBA macros.
Observed behavior: Existing Excel VBA automation built for Internet Explorer no longer functions, as Internet Explorer is obsolete and cannot control Microsoft Edge natively.

Before you start

Before rewriting your web automation scripts, check if the target website or Power App offers an official API, as direct API integration is much faster and more reliable than browser automation.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Microsoft Edge WebDriver with Selenium Basic

Selenium is the standard approach for automating modern browsers like Microsoft Edge using VBA.

Since Microsoft Edge does not support native COM automation like Internet Explorer, you must use a third-party framework. Selenium Basic bridges the gap between VBA and the Edge WebDriver.

Install Selenium Basic

Download and install Selenium Basic for VBA. Ensure you add the 'Selenium Type Library' reference via Tools > References in the VBA Editor.

Download Edge WebDriver

Check your Microsoft Edge version (Settings > About Microsoft Edge) and download the matching Edge WebDriver executable from Microsoft's official site. Place it in the Selenium Basic installation folder.

Rewrite Your VBA Code

Replace the old 'InternetExplorer.Application' object with the new 'Selenium.EdgeDriver' object. Use Selenium's methods like '.Get' to navigate to URLs and '.FindElementById' to interact with page elements.

Authentication Requirements: Dynamic pages like Power Apps often require complex authentication. You may need to pass specific user profiles or use API tokens within your Selenium script to bypass login prompts.

Solution 2

Transition to Microsoft Power Automate

Power Automate Desktop provides built-in web automation actions that seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Edge without writing complex code.

Solution 3

Extract Data using Excel Power Query

If your VBA script was primarily used for web scraping, Power Query is a native, stable alternative for pulling data into Excel.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Enhance Your Productivity with WPS Office

While resolving complex legacy web automation dependencies in Microsoft tools, consider WPS Office as a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for your daily spreadsheet and macro tasks. It offers robust format compatibility and a user-friendly interface without the heavy resource overhead.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version for your operating system.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer. Once completed, open WPS Spreadsheet to access a familiar interface.
3. Open Macro-Enabled Files: Directly open your existing .xlsm files. WPS Office will process your standard macros smoothly.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and .xlsm) formatsSupports standard VBA macros and modern JS Macros for versatile automationLightweight installation with extremely fast launch timesFree to use with an intuitive, all-in-one tabbed workspace

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my InternetExplorer.Application VBA code stop working?

Microsoft has officially retired Internet Explorer. The underlying COM objects used by VBA to control Internet Explorer are no longer supported and cannot be used to natively control modern browsers like Microsoft Edge.

Can I use standard VBA to automate Microsoft Edge directly?

No, Microsoft Edge does not support native COM automation out of the box like Internet Explorer did. To control Edge via VBA, you must install and reference third-party tools such as Selenium Basic and the Microsoft Edge WebDriver.

Is Power Query a complete replacement for VBA web scraping?

Not entirely. Power Query is excellent and highly stable for extracting data tables or pulling information from APIs. However, if your task requires interacting with the UI, clicking buttons, or navigating dynamic forms (like Power Apps), you will need WebDriver or Power Automate.

How do I handle authentication on dynamic Power Apps pages during automation?

Dynamic pages often utilize modern authentication that is difficult to bypass with simple scripts. You should utilize Microsoft Edge WebDriver running a specific user profile that is already authenticated, or switch to Power Automate, which natively handles Microsoft ecosystem authentications.

Excel & Data Problems