Configure Old IP Cameras (that Require Internet Explorer Plugin / ActiveX) with Edge Browser's IE Mode

Contents

Step 1: Connect camera to the network and find its IP address

Step 2: Access the Camera's Web-based Configuration Tool

Introduction

Microsoft removed the Internet Explorer web browser from its Windows 10 operating system in Feb 2023. Windows 11 does not include Internet Explorer. However, many old IP cameras can only be configured with Internet Explorer because they use a Plugin or ActiveX control that only works in Internet Explorer. Now the problem is, if you don't have Windows 7 or Windows 8, how can you configure or re-configure such IP cameras?

Luckily, Microsoft did not completely remove Internet Explorer from Windows 10 and 11. While the IE browser is removed, you can still access IE features using Microsoft Edge browser. You just need to use the IE mode.

We will use Foscam C1 IP camera as an example to show you how to configure it with Microsoft's Edge web browser.

Step 1: Connect camera to the network and find its IP address

1.1 Connect camera to the network

If the camera does not support Wi-Fi, you can connect it with a network router using an Ethernet cable. After you connect the cable, wait for about one minute, until the camera obtains the IP address through DHCP.

If the camera supports Wi-Fi, there are two ways to connect it to the network.

If the router or camera does not support WPS, then you need to connect the camera with the router using an Ethernet cable first. You can configure the Wi-Fi settings in the camera's configuration pages later.
If both the Wi-Fi router and IP camera support WPS, then it is very easy to connect your device to the network.

Turn on the camera, press the WPS button on your Wi-Fi access point for three seconds; the WPS button starts flashing. Quickly press the WPS button on your camera within a few seconds and hold it for a few seconds until the light changes. In about one minute, you will see the status light changes, indicating it is connected to the wireless router.

1.2 Find the Camera's IP Address

Please refer to the camera manufacturer's manual for more information.

There are two ways to find the camera's IP address.

(a) Use the manufacturer's setup program

From a PC in the same network, insert the camera's software CD and run the autorun program.
Follow the wizard and you should be able to find the camera's IP address:

Some IP camera manufacturers provide a Camera Search Tool, if so, please use that tool to find the Camera's IP address.
If the manufacturer does not offer such a tool, usually they offer other ways, e.g. some cameras can automatically connect to the manufacturer's website. Some manufacturers' offer mobile apps.

(b) Use CameraFTP Virtual Security System (VSS) software

Download CameraFTP VSS from CameraFTP's software page, install it and then launch it. Once logged-on, click Add to add a camera. After you click Add, select IP Camera. Please see the screenshot below:

Click "Find IP Cameras in Local Network". After a couple minutes, VSS will finish searching the network and display the following results:

As shown above, VSS found multiple IP cameras in the local network. For IP cameras that support ONVIF, VSS can display the device names (models). Otherwise, it might display an incorrect device name.

If VSS cannot display the correct device name, but it can find some IP cameras, then you can check these IP addresses one-by-one using a web browser. For most home users, the IP list will be very short, so it should be quite easy.

Note:

VSS can find most of IP cameras. However, the port numbers displayed above may not be the port numbers used for configuring the IP cameras. If the port number is not 80, please try the port number first. If it does not work, then try port 80 and 88. (Foscam uses Port 88)

Also, not all IP addresses in the list are IP cameras. VSS may display other non-camera devices, such as IP phones or network routers.

Step 2: Access the Camera's Web-based Configuration Tool

After you find the camera's IP address and port number, you can launch Microsoft Edge web browser and enter the IP address and port number (usually 80, 88, 8000, 8888) of your camera, such as: http://IP_ADDRESS:PORT_NUMBER/

As you can see, it displays "Plugins are not found. Click me to download." You can click it to download the plugin, then install it. However, even after the plugin is installed, it will report the same problem and you still cannot log in. ( Not all old IP cameras are like the Foscam one. Many other camera models can let you log in, but the live view requires a web browser plugin. )

It is because the plugin only works in Internet Explorer web browser. With MS Edge, you need to use the IE mode. To turn on the IE mode, please open the browser's Settings page:

Click "Default browser" in the Settings page, then Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode; then click Add to add a URL to be loaded in IE mode. In this example, it is:
http://192.168.30.41:88/

Close all browser windows, then re-launch MS Edge and access the above URL, it will load the page in IE mode now.

As you can see, now the browser can detect the Add-on. Click Allow to allow the plugin to run. Then log in to the camera with your camera's username and password. You will see the camera's live view screen.

After this step, the remaining steps are very similar to configuring other camera models. You can click Settings to continue configuring the camera for cloud recording. Please visit the Supported Cameras page for a list of IP cameras that we tested and documented.