Internet Explorer users could be in for a nasty surprise tomorrow, as Microsoft is releasing a major update to permanently disable its aging browser software.

The US tech giant is planning to release an 'irreversible' update tomorrow that will block access to Internet Explorer 11 and force users to switch to Microsoft Edge or an alternative browser.

Clicking on the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop will launch Microsoft Edge once the update is applied, and users are powerless to change this.

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Users of Internet Explorer 11 are being warned to save key information such as their passwords or bookmarks to avoid disruption when the update is released tomorrow.

Microsoft said that the update which disables Internet Explorer "is intended to provide a much better user experience and help organisations transition their last remaining IE 11 users to Microsoft Edge".

The update will be rolled out for Microsoft Edge tomorrow, February 14.

Support for Internet Explorer 11 was withdrawn from Windows last year, but some users and businesses continue to rely on the browser to access the Internet and view essential apps.

Microsoft Edge is Microsoft's take on a modern Internet browser, and uses much of the same architecture as the more popular Google Chrome.

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However, there are many other options available for Windows users when it comes to accessing the Internet, including Mozilla Firefox, the privacy-friendly Brave, and Opera.

Internet Explorer was first introduced by Microsoft in 1995, and quickly became one of the world's most-used tools for accessing websites.

It was frequently criticised for lacking popular features that other browsers had, such as the ability to change themes.

Microsoft was also criticised for forcing the browser on Windows users by default, and even faced legal action over alleged anti-competitive practices.

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