When opening an Edge window with Selenium, disable IE mode: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Are you tired of dealing with the frustration of IE mode when using Selenium to open an Edge window? Do you find yourself wondering why your automation tests are failing due to the inconsistent behavior of Edge in IE mode? You’re not alone! In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of Edge and Selenium, exploring the reasons why IE mode is enabled by default and, more importantly, how to disable it.

What is IE mode, and why is it enabled by default?

IE mode, also known as Internet Explorer Compatibility Mode, is a feature in Microsoft Edge that allows users to access older websites that are not compatible with modern web standards. This mode uses the Internet Explorer 11 engine to render the website, providing a more consistent experience for users who need to access legacy websites.

By default, Edge enables IE mode when it detects that a website is not compatible with the latest web standards. This can be problematic for Selenium users, as IE mode can interfere with the automation of modern web applications.

Why disable IE mode?

Disabling IE mode is essential when using Selenium to automate Edge, as it allows for:

• Consistency and reliability: By disabling IE mode, you can ensure that your automation tests run consistently and reliably, without the interference of legacy browser behavior.
• Improved performance: Modern web applications are optimized for the latest web standards, and disabling IE mode allows Edge to render these applications more efficiently.
• Better support for modern web features: IE mode can limit the functionality of modern web features, such as HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. Disabling IE mode ensures that these features are supported, allowing for more comprehensive automation testing.

Methods to disable IE mode

There are several methods to disable IE mode when opening an Edge window with Selenium. We’ll explore each method in detail, providing you with the knowledge to choose the best approach for your specific use case.

Method 1: Using the `edgeOptions` class

The `edgeOptions` class is a part of the Selenium WebDriver API, which allows you to configure the Edge browser instance. To disable IE mode, you can use the `addArguments` method to pass the `–edge-ie-mode` flag with a value of `0`.

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.edge import service
from selenium.webdriver.edge.options import Options

# Create a new EdgeOptions instance
options = Options()

# Disable IE mode
options.add_argument("--edge-ie-mode=0")

# Create a new Edge service
service = service.Service()

# Create a new Edge driver instance with the disabled IE mode
driver = webdriver.Edge(service=service, options=options)

# Open the desired website
driver.get("https://example.com")

Method 2: Using the `DesiredCapabilities` class

The `DesiredCapabilities` class is another part of the Selenium WebDriver API, which allows you to define the desired browser capabilities. To disable IE mode, you can use the `setCapability` method to set the `edge.ieMode` capability to `false`.

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.desired_capabilities import DesiredCapabilities

# Create a new DesiredCapabilities instance
caps = DesiredCapabilities.EDGE

# Disable IE mode
caps.set_capability("edge.ieMode", False)

# Create a new Edge driver instance with the disabled IE mode
driver = webdriver.Edge(desired_capabilities=caps)

# Open the desired website
driver.get("https://example.com")

Method 3: Using the `EdgeOptions` with `ChromeOptions`

Yes, you read that right! You can use the `ChromeOptions` class to configure the Edge browser instance, as Edge is built on top of the Chromium engine. To disable IE mode, you can use the `add_argument` method to pass the `–edge-ie-mode` flag with a value of `0`.

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

# Create a new ChromeOptions instance
options = Options()

# Disable IE mode
options.add_argument("--edge-ie-mode=0")

# Create a new Edge driver instance with the disabled IE mode
driver = webdriver.Edge(options=options)

# Open the desired website
driver.get("https://example.com")

Additional Tips and Tricks

In addition to disabling IE mode, here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Selenium automation tests:

Use the `edge.exe` binary

When creating a new Edge driver instance, make sure to use the `edge.exe` binary instead of the `msedge.exe` binary. The `edge.exe` binary is the actual Edge browser executable, while the `msedge.exe` binary is the Edge installer.

from selenium import webdriver

# Create a new Edge service with the correct binary
service = service.Service("C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\edge.exe")

# Create a new Edge driver instance
driver = webdriver.Edge(service=service)

# Open the desired website
driver.get("https://example.com")

Configure the `WebView2` runtime

The `WebView2` runtime is a component of the Edge browser that enables the use of Chromium-based webviews. To ensure that your automation tests run smoothly, make sure to configure the `WebView2` runtime correctly.

from selenium import webdriver

# Create a new Edge service with the correct WebView2 runtime configuration
service = service.Service("C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\edge.exe", 
                          webView2_RuntimeDir="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\89.0.774.57\\WebView2 Runtime")

# Create a new Edge driver instance
driver = webdriver.Edge(service=service)

# Open the desired website
driver.get("https://example.com")

Conclusion

In conclusion, disabling IE mode when opening an Edge window with Selenium is crucial for ensuring consistent and reliable automation testing. By using one of the methods outlined in this article, you can ensure that your tests run smoothly and efficiently, without the interference of legacy browser behavior.

Remember to stay up-to-date with the latest Selenium and Edge releases, as new features and capabilities are being added regularly. Happy testing!

options.add_argument("--edge-ie-mode=0")

caps.set_capability("edge.ieMode", False)

options.add_argument("--edge-ie-mode=0")

By following the instructions outlined in this article, you should be able to disable IE mode and ensure that your Selenium automation tests run smoothly and efficiently. Happy testing!

Frequently Asked Question

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