Internet Explorer Setup command-line options and return codes

Caution

Update: The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

You can use command-line options along with a tool like IExpress to package your custom version of Internet Explorer and to perform a batch installation across your organization.

IE Setup command-line options

These command-line options work with IE Setup:

[/help] [/passive | /quiet] [/update-no] [/no-default] [/nobackup] [/ieak-full:<path> | /ieak-branding: <path>] [/norestart | /forcerestart] [/log: <path>

Parameter (Setup modes) Description
/passive Runs the install without requiring input from the employee, showing progress and error messages.
/quiet Identical to /passive, but doesn't show any of the progress or error messages to the employee.

Parameter (Setup options) Description
/update-no Doesn't look for Internet Explorer updates.
/no-default Doesn't make Internet Explorer the default browser.
/no-backup Doesn't back up the files necessary to uninstall IE.
/ieak-full Reserved for use by the IEAK 11.
/ieak-branding Reserved for use by the IEAK 11.

Parameter (Restart options) Description
/norestart Doesn't restart after installation.
/forcerestart Restarts after installation.

Parameter (miscellaneous options) Description
/help Provides help info. Can't be used with any other option.
/log <path> Creates a log file about the installation process, at the specified location.

Windows Setup return and status codes

Windows Setup needs to tell you whether IE successfully installed. However, because IE11wzd.exe is packaged inside your IE11setup.exe file, the return codes can’t be sent directly back to you. Instead, Setup needs to return the information (both success and failure) to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\InstallInfo registry branch.

Subkey Data type Value
Complete String 0 = Success
Complete String 0x80100003 = Files are missing for the requested installation.
Complete String 0x80100001 = Setup partially succeeded. One or more components weren’t downloaded or installed. Check the FailedComponents subkey for the list of components.
Complete String 0x80100002 = Setup partially succeeded, but the employee cancelled Setup. One or more components weren’t downloaded or installed. Check the FailedComponents subkey for the list of components.
FailedComponents MultiSZ <Component_Name_from_CIFID>Null<Component_Name_from_CIFID>Component1
InstallStatus Binary 0 = Install completed successfully.
InstallStatus Binary 1 = Suspend Setup.
The employee cancelled Setup and is then asked to confirm:
  • 2 = No, don’t cancel. Resume Setup.
  • 3 = Yes, cancel confirmed. Quit Setup as soon as possible.

Important
If the cancellation is confirmed, Setup will quit as soon as all of the in-progress tasks are done, like copying or extracting files.