Use latest version of Internet Explorer in the web

Question

The default version of the webbrowser control in a C# Windows Forms application is 7. I have changed to 9 by the article Browser Emulation, but how is it possible to use the latest version of the installed Internet Explorer in a webbrowser control?

Answer 1

A cheap and easy workaround for it is that you can just put a value which is bigger than 11001 in the FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION key. Then it takes the latest IE that is available in the system.

Answer 2

I was able to implement Luca's solution, but I had to make a few changes for it to work. My goal was to use D3.js with a Web Browser control for a Windows Forms Application (targeting .NET 2.0). It is working for me now. I hope this can help someone else.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Threading;
using Microsoft.Win32;
using System.Diagnostics;

namespace ClientUI
{
    static class Program
    {
        static Mutex mutex = new System.Threading.Mutex(false, "jMutex");

        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            if (!mutex.WaitOne(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2), false))
            {
                // Another application instance is running
                return;
            }
            try
            {
                Application.EnableVisualStyles();
                Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);

                var targetApplication = Process.GetCurrentProcess().ProcessName + ".exe";
                int ie_emulation = 11999;
                try
                {
                    string tmp = Properties.Settings.Default.ie_emulation;
                    ie_emulation = int.Parse(tmp);
                }
                catch { }
                SetIEVersioneKeyforWebBrowserControl(targetApplication, ie_emulation);

                Application.Run(new MainForm());
            }
            finally
            {
                mutex.ReleaseMutex();
            }
        }

        private static void SetIEVersioneKeyforWebBrowserControl(string appName, int ieval)
        {
            RegistryKey Regkey = null;
            try
            {
                Regkey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", true);

                // If the path is not correct or
                // if user doesn't have privileges to access the registry
                if (Regkey == null)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Application FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION Failed - Registry key Not found");
                    return;
                }

                string FindAppkey = Convert.ToString(Regkey.GetValue(appName));

                // Check if key is already present
                if (FindAppkey == ieval.ToString())
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Application FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION already set to " + ieval);
                    Regkey.Close();
                    return;
                }

                // If key is not present or different from desired, add/modify the key , key value
                Regkey.SetValue(appName, unchecked((int)ieval), RegistryValueKind.DWord);

                // Check for the key after adding
                FindAppkey = Convert.ToString(Regkey.GetValue(appName));

                if (FindAppkey == ieval.ToString())
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Application FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION changed to " + ieval + "; changes will be visible at application restart");
                }
                else
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Application FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION setting failed; current value is  " + ieval);
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Application FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION setting failed; " + ex.Message);
            }
            finally
            {
                //Close the Registry
                if (Regkey != null) Regkey.Close();
            }
        }
    }
}

Also, I added a string (ie_emulation) to the project's settings with the value of 11999. This value seems to be working for IE11(11.0.15).

Next, I had to change the permission for my application to allow access to the registry. This can be done by adding a new item to your project (using VS2012). Under the General Items, select Application Manifest File. Change the level from asInvoker to requireAdministrator (as shown below).

<requestedExecutionLevel level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="false" />

If someone reading this is trying to use D3.js with a webbrowser control, you may have to modify the JSON data to be stored within a variable inside your HTML page because D3.json uses XmlHttpRequest (easier to use with a webserver). After those changes and the above, my windows forms are able to load local HTML files that call D3.

Answer 3

Visual Basic Version:

Private Sub setRegisterForWebBrowser()

    Dim appName = Process.GetCurrentProcess().ProcessName + ".exe"
    SetIE8KeyforWebBrowserControl(appName)
End Sub

Private Sub SetIE8KeyforWebBrowserControl(appName As String)
    'ref:    http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17922308/use-latest-version-of-ie-in-webbrowser-control
    Dim Regkey As RegistryKey = Nothing
    Dim lgValue As Long = 8000
    Dim strValue As Long = lgValue.ToString()

    Try

        'For 64 bit Machine 
        If (Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem) Then
            Regkey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Wow6432Node\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\MAIN\\FeatureControl\\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", True)
        Else  'For 32 bit Machine 
            Regkey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Main\\FeatureControl\\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", True)
        End If


        'If the path Is Not correct Or 
        'If user't have priviledges to access registry 
        If (Regkey Is Nothing) Then

            MessageBox.Show("Application Settings Failed - Address Not found")
            Return
        End If


        Dim FindAppkey As String = Convert.ToString(Regkey.GetValue(appName))

        'Check if key Is already present 
        If (FindAppkey = strValue) Then

            MessageBox.Show("Required Application Settings Present")
            Regkey.Close()
            Return
        End If


        'If key Is Not present add the key , Kev value 8000-Decimal 
        If (String.IsNullOrEmpty(FindAppkey)) Then
            ' Regkey.SetValue(appName, BitConverter.GetBytes(&H1F40), RegistryValueKind.DWord)
            Regkey.SetValue(appName, lgValue, RegistryValueKind.DWord)

            'check for the key after adding 
            FindAppkey = Convert.ToString(Regkey.GetValue(appName))
        End If

        If (FindAppkey = strValue) Then
            MessageBox.Show("Registre de l'application appliquée avec succès")
        Else
            MessageBox.Show("Échec du paramètrage du registre, Ref: " + FindAppkey)
        End If
    Catch ex As Exception


        MessageBox.Show("Application Settings Failed")
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)

    Finally

        'Close the Registry 
        If (Not Regkey Is Nothing) Then
            Regkey.Close()
        End If
    End Try
End Sub

Answer 4

I saw Veer's answer. I think it's right, but it did not I work for me. Maybe I am using .NET 4 and am using 64x OS so kindly check this.

You may put in setup or check it in start-up of your application:

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    var appName = Process.GetCurrentProcess().ProcessName + ".exe";
    SetIE8KeyforWebBrowserControl(appName);
}

private void SetIE8KeyforWebBrowserControl(string appName)
{
    RegistryKey Regkey = null;
    try
    {
        // For 64 bit machine
        if (Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem)
            Regkey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\\Wow6432Node\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\MAIN\\FeatureControl\\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", true);
        else  //For 32 bit machine
            Regkey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Main\\FeatureControl\\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", true);

        // If the path is not correct or
        // if the user haven't priviledges to access the registry
        if (Regkey == null)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Application Settings Failed - Address Not found");
            return;
        }

        string FindAppkey = Convert.ToString(Regkey.GetValue(appName));

        // Check if key is already present
        if (FindAppkey == "8000")
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Required Application Settings Present");
            Regkey.Close();
            return;
        }

        // If a key is not present add the key, Key value 8000 (decimal)
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(FindAppkey))
            Regkey.SetValue(appName, unchecked((int)0x1F40), RegistryValueKind.DWord);

        // Check for the key after adding
        FindAppkey = Convert.ToString(Regkey.GetValue(appName));

        if (FindAppkey == "8000")
            MessageBox.Show("Application Settings Applied Successfully");
        else
            MessageBox.Show("Application Settings Failed, Ref: " + FindAppkey);
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Application Settings Failed");
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
    }
    finally
    {
        // Close the Registry
        if (Regkey != null)
            Regkey.Close();
    }
}

You may find messagebox.show, just for testing.

Keys are as the following:

• 11001 (0x2AF9) - Internet Explorer 11. Webpages are displayed in IE11 edge mode, regardless of the !DOCTYPE directive.

• 11000 (0x2AF8) - Internet Explorer 11. Webpages containing standards-based !DOCTYPE directives are displayed in IE11 edge mode. Default value for IE11.

• 10001 (0x2711)- Internet Explorer 10. Webpages are displayed in IE10 Standards mode, regardless of the !DOCTYPE directive.

• 10000 (0x2710)- Internet Explorer 10. Webpages containing standards-based !DOCTYPE directives are displayed in IE10 Standards mode. Default value for Internet Explorer 10.

• 9999 (0x270F) - Internet Explorer 9. Webpages are displayed in IE9 Standards mode, regardless of the !DOCTYPE directive.

• 9000 (0x2328) - Internet Explorer 9. Webpages containing standards-based !DOCTYPE directives are displayed in IE9 mode.

• 8888 (0x22B8) - Webpages are displayed in IE8 Standards mode, regardless of the !DOCTYPE directive.

• 8000 (0x1F40) - Webpages containing standards-based !DOCTYPE directives are displayed in IE8 mode.

• 7000 (0x1B58) - Webpages containing standards-based !DOCTYPE directives are displayed in IE7 Standards mode.

Reference: MSDN: Internet Feature Controls

I saw applications like Skype use 10001. I do not know.

NOTE

The setup application will change the registry. You may need to add a line in the Manifest File to avoid errors due to permissions of change in registry:

<requestedExecutionLevel level="highestAvailable" uiAccess="false" />

UPDATE 1

This is a class will get the latest version of IE on windows and make changes as should be;

public class WebBrowserHelper
{


    public static int GetEmbVersion()
    {
        int ieVer = GetBrowserVersion();

        if (ieVer > 9)
            return ieVer * 1000 + 1;

        if (ieVer > 7)
            return ieVer * 1111;

        return 7000;
    } // End Function GetEmbVersion

    public static void FixBrowserVersion()
    {
        string appName = System.IO.Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);
        FixBrowserVersion(appName);
    }

    public static void FixBrowserVersion(string appName)
    {
        FixBrowserVersion(appName, GetEmbVersion());
    } // End Sub FixBrowserVersion

    // FixBrowserVersion("<YourAppName>", 9000);
    public static void FixBrowserVersion(string appName, int ieVer)
    {
        FixBrowserVersion_Internal("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", appName + ".exe", ieVer);
        FixBrowserVersion_Internal("HKEY_CURRENT_USER", appName + ".exe", ieVer);
        FixBrowserVersion_Internal("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", appName + ".vshost.exe", ieVer);
        FixBrowserVersion_Internal("HKEY_CURRENT_USER", appName + ".vshost.exe", ieVer);
    } // End Sub FixBrowserVersion 

    private static void FixBrowserVersion_Internal(string root, string appName, int ieVer)
    {
        try
        {
            //For 64 bit Machine 
            if (Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem)
                Microsoft.Win32.Registry.SetValue(root + @"\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", appName, ieVer);
            else  //For 32 bit Machine 
                Microsoft.Win32.Registry.SetValue(root + @"\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", appName, ieVer);


        }
        catch (Exception)
        {
            // some config will hit access rights exceptions
            // this is why we try with both LOCAL_MACHINE and CURRENT_USER
        }
    } // End Sub FixBrowserVersion_Internal 

    public static int GetBrowserVersion()
    {
        // string strKeyPath = @"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer";
        string strKeyPath = @"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer";
        string[] ls = new string[] { "svcVersion", "svcUpdateVersion", "Version", "W2kVersion" };

        int maxVer = 0;
        for (int i = 0; i < ls.Length; ++i)
        {
            object objVal = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.GetValue(strKeyPath, ls[i], "0");
            string strVal = System.Convert.ToString(objVal);
            if (strVal != null)
            {
                int iPos = strVal.IndexOf('.');
                if (iPos > 0)
                    strVal = strVal.Substring(0, iPos);

                int res = 0;
                if (int.TryParse(strVal, out res))
                    maxVer = Math.Max(maxVer, res);
            } // End if (strVal != null)

        } // Next i

        return maxVer;
    } // End Function GetBrowserVersion 


}

using of class as followed

WebBrowserHelper.FixBrowserVersion();
WebBrowserHelper.FixBrowserVersion("SomeAppName");
WebBrowserHelper.FixBrowserVersion("SomeAppName",intIeVer);

you may face a problem for in comparability of windows 10, may due to your website itself you may need to add this meta tag

<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=11" >

Enjoy :)

Answer 5

Rather than changing the RegKey, I was able to put a line in the header of my HTML:

<html>
    <head>
        <!-- Use lastest version of Internet Explorer -->
        <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" />

        <!-- Insert other header tags here -->
    </head>
    ...
</html>

See Web Browser Control & Specifying the IE Version.

Answer 6

var appName = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess().ProcessName + ".exe";

using (var Key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION", true))
    Key.SetValue(appName, 99999, RegistryValueKind.DWord);

According to what I read here (Controlling WebBrowser Control Compatibility:

What Happens if I Set the FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION Document Mode Value Higher than the IE Version on the Client?

Obviously, the browser control can only support a document mode that is less than or equal to the IE version installed on the client. Using the FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION key works best for enterprise line of business apps where there is a deployed and support version of the browser. In the case you set the value to a browser mode that is a higher version than the browser version installed on the client, the browser control will choose the highest document mode available.

The simplest thing is to put a very high decimal number ...