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64-Bit Versions of IE 7 & IE8 Are Not Fully Compatible with SharePoint 2010

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On April 18, 2010
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As you may know, most new computers are 64-bit and come with a 64-bit version of Windows 7. By default, the 64-bit Windows 7 uses the 32-bit version of IE 8, however, if you use the 64-bit version of IE8 you should know that your browser is not fully compatible with SharePoint 2010. According to Microsoft’s own testing, the 64-bit versions of IE 7 and IE8, and Mozilla Firefox are not fully compatible with SharePoint 2010. Although there are several SharePoint features that will work, but there are more than a dozen features that won’t in Microsoft’s 64-bit versions of IE7 and IE8. For example, you cannot edit in Microsoft Office applications or use the Datasheet View on Microsoft’s latest 64-bit browsers (IE7 & IE8) and Microsoft does not offer any workarounds as of April 16, 2010.

IE8 (64-bit) Limitations

According to Microsoft, the following features have known limitations in IE 8 (64-bit). Microsoft does not offer any workarounds in most cases.

Note: The 32-bit version of IE8 has no known limitations.

Feature Limitation
Connect to Outlook, Connect to Office, and Sync to SharePoint Workspace Works with an ActiveX control and the stssync:// protocol. Therefore, functionality may be limited without an ActiveX control, such as the one that is included in Microsoft Office 2010. The feature also requires an application that is compatible with the stssync:// protocol, such as Microsoft Outlook.
Datasheet view Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Edit in Microsoft Office application Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Explorer view Removed in SharePoint Server 2010. Libraries that have been upgraded from earlier versions of SharePoint Server 2010 may still have Explorer views and these may not work.
Export to Excel Downloads a file with an .iqy extension to the Web browser. If Microsoft Excel is not installed, and if no other application is configured to open this file, then this feature will not work.
File upload and copy Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Microsoft InfoPath 2010 integration Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Picture Library integration Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • If a user wants to upload multiple pictures in a picture library, the user must upload one picture at a time by using Upload.aspx.
  • If a user wants to edit a picture in a picture library, the user must download the picture, edit it, and then upload the picture to the picture library.
  • If a user wants to download more than one picture from a picture library, the user must download one picture at a time by clicking on the picture link.
Microsoft Visio 2010 diagram creation Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
New Document Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control. Although the New Document command may not work, you can use the Upload Document functionality. If you install and configure Office Web Applications on the server, the New Document command works, and you can create an Office document in your browser.
Send To Can leverage a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control. Without the control, files cannot be sent from one SharePoint farm to another SharePoint farm. However, files can still be sent from one site to another site.
Signing Forms (InfoPath Form Services) Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Spreadsheet and Database integration Require a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • If a user wants to edit a document, the user must download the document, edit it, and then save it back to the server.
  • In a list that requires a document to be checked out for editing, a user must use the Edit menu to check out the document, edit it, and then check it in by using the Edit menu.
  • Export to spreadsheet. Users can export a SharePoint list as a spreadsheet by clicking Export to Spreadsheet on the List tab on the ribbon.
Web Part to Web Part Connections May require deactivation of browsers pop-up blockers for SharePoint sites.
Slide library and PowerPoint 2010 integration Require a 64-bit ActiveX control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • Delete a slide. Users can delete a slide by first clicking the slide, and then clicking Delete Slide. Repeat for each slide.

IE 7 (64-bit) Limitations

According to Microsoft, the following features have known limitations in IE 7 (64-bit). Microsoft does not offer any workarounds in most cases.

Note: The 32-bit version of IE8 has no known limitations.

Feature Limitation
Connect to Outlook, Connect to Office, and Sync to SharePoint Workspace Works with an ActiveX control and the stssync:// protocol. Therefore, functionality may be limited without an ActiveX control, such as the one that is included in Microsoft Office 2010. This feature requires an application that is compatible with the stssync:// protocol, such as Microsoft Outlook.
Datasheet view Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Edit in Microsoft Office application Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Explorer view Removed in SharePoint Server 2010. Libraries that have been upgraded from earlier versions of SharePoint Server 2010 may still have Explorer views.
Export to Excel Downloads a file with an .iqy extension to the Web browser. If Microsoft Excel is not installed, and if no other application is configured to open this file, then this feature will not work.
File upload and copy Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Microsoft InfoPath 2010 integration Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Picture Library integration Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • If a user wants to upload multiple pictures in a picture library, the user must upload one picture at a time by using Upload.aspx.
  • If a user wants to edit a picture in a picture library, the user must download the picture, edit it, and then upload the picture to the picture library.
  • If a user wants to download more than one picture from a picture library, the user must download one picture at a time by clicking on the picture link.
Microsoft Visio 2010 diagram creation Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
New Document Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control. Although the New Document command may not work, you can use the Upload Document functionality. If you install and configure Office Web Applications on the server, the New Document command works, and you can create an Office document in your browser.
Send To Can leverage a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control. Without the control, files cannot be sent from one SharePoint farm to another SharePoint farm. However, files can still be sent from one site to another site.
Signing Forms (InfoPath Form Services) Requires a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control.
Spreadsheet and Database integration Require a 64-bit ActiveX control. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a 64-bit version of this control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • If a user wants to edit a document, the user must download the document, edit it, and then save it back to the server.
  • In a list that requires a document to be checked out for editing, a user must use the Edit menu to check out the document, edit it, and then check it in by using the Edit menu.
  • Export to spreadsheet. Users can export a SharePoint list as a spreadsheet by clicking Export to Spreadsheet on the List tab on the ribbon.
Web Part to Web Part Connections May require deactivation of browsers pop-up blockers for SharePoint sites.
Slide library and PowerPoint 2010 integration Require a 64-bit ActiveX control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • Delete a slide. Users can delete a slide by first clicking the slide, and then clicking Delete Slide. Repeat for each slide.

Mozilla Firefox Limitations

Unfortunately, you can’t  use Mozilla Firefox as a workaround. When it comes to SharePoint, Firefox too has numerous limitations and Microsoft does not offer any workarounds in most cases.

According to Microsoft, they tested the latest version of Firefox 3.6 and found the following limitations on Windows operating systems.

Feature Limitation
Connect to Outlook, Connect to Office, and Sync to SharePoint Workspace Works with an ActiveX control, but requires a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control. The feature also requires an application that is compatible with the stssync:// protocol, such as Microsoft Outlook.
Datasheet view Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control.
Drag and Drop Web Parts Cannot be moved by using drag and drop on Web Part pages. Users must click Edit on the Web Part, select Modify Web Part, and then select the zone from the Layout section of the Web Part properties page. Web Parts can be moved using drag and drop on Pages.
Edit in Microsoft Office application Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in SharePoint Server 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Firefox users can read more about the control by visiting Microsoft Office 2010 Firefox Plug-in. If you install and configure the Office Web Applications on the server, the Edit functionality works and you can modify Office documents in your browser.
Explorer view Removed in SharePoint Server 2010. Libraries that have been upgraded from earlier versions of SharePoint Server 2010 may still have Explorer views, and these may not work. Explorer view requires Internet Explorer.
Export to Excel Downloads a file with an .iqy extension to the Web browser. If Microsoft Excel is not installed, and if no other application is configured to open this file, then this feature will not work.
File upload and copy Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control.
Microsoft InfoPath 2010 integration Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Picture Library integration Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • If a user wants to upload multiple pictures in a picture library, the user must upload one picture at a time by using Upload.aspx.
  • If a user wants to edit a picture in a picture library, the user must download the picture, edit it, and then upload the picture to the picture library.
  • If a user wants to download more than one picture from a picture library, the user must download one picture at a time by clicking on the picture link.
Microsoft Visio 2010 diagram creation Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control.
New Document Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Firefox users can read more about the control by visiting Microsoft Office 2010 Firefox Plug-in. Although the New Document command may not work, you can use the Upload Document functionality. If you install and configure Office Web Applications on the server, the New Document command works, and you can create an Office document in your browser.
Rich Text Editor – Basic Toolbar Requires Internet Explorer.
Send To Can leverage an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control. Without the control, files cannot be sent from one SharePoint farm to another SharePoint farm. However, files can still be sent from one site to another site.
Signing Forms (InfoPath Form Services) Requires an ActiveX control, such as the one that is delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and a Firefox control adaptor. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control.
Spreadsheet and Database integration Require ActiveX controls, such as those that are delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and Firefox control adaptors. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • If a user wants to edit a document, the user must download the document, edit it, and then save it back to the server.
  • In a list that requires a document to be checked out for editing, a user must use the Edit menu to check out the document, edit it, and then check it in by using the Edit menu.
  • Export to spreadsheet. Users can export a SharePoint list as a spreadsheet by clicking Export to Spreadsheet on the List tab on the ribbon.
Web Part to Web Part Connections May require deactivation of browsers pop-up blockers for SharePoint sites.
Slide library and PowerPoint 2010 integration Require ActiveX controls, such as those that are delivered in Microsoft Office 2010, and Firefox control adaptors. Microsoft Office 2010 does not provide a Firefox control adaptor for this control. The user can use the following workarounds when no control has been installed:
  • Delete a slide. Users can delete a slide by first clicking the slide, and then clicking Delete Slide. Repeat for each slide.

The following features do not work on this platform:

  • Copy a slide to a presentation. This feature enables users to add a slide to a PowerPoint 2010 presentation.
  • Publish a slide. This feature enables users to upload a single slide from a PowerPoint 2010 presentation to a slide library. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer.

Copyright ©2010 Zubair Alexander. All rights reserved.

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4 Comments

  1. The default browser in Windows 7 is 32-bit edition of IE8 so this will never be an issue that average joe will encounter. 64-bit edition of IE8 is included in Windows 7, but you must manually locate it in the start-menu!

  2. Göran,

    In my article I had hinted that the default browser is 64-bit version of IE8, which is not correct. Thanks for pointing that out. In 64-bit Windows 7 you have two options. You can either start the 32-bit version or 64-bit version of IE8. They are both accessible from the Start, All Programs menu (Listed as Internet Explorer & Internet Explorer (64-bit) respectively. However, if you start the browser from the taskbar or by clicking on a hyperlink in the e-mail then it starts the 32-bit version so the default browser is 32-bit version of IE8. I have changed the reference to the default browser in the article to reflect this correction.

    Thanks.

  3. Great to see this. I just spent a while dragging some of this from a Support Moderator on the Office 365 forum. That’s the only way to get support on the P1 plan of Office 365 for small businesses, which is back to front since small businesses clearly require more support than enterprises! Especially since the whole point of a small business using Office 365 to get Exchange and SharePoint facilities is to avoid the cost of employing IT support. I know there is lots of information spread around the various Microsoft sites, but an integrated online Help would seem to be essential especially for the average user of Office 365. This would clearly need to cover the limitations you have documented rather than having to find them by chance on TechNet.

    Incidentally, there do seem to be limitations with the 32 bit version of IE9, which is the default on Vista. “Open with Explorer” works, but only if I disable UAC on Vista; I think you can set UAC to a lower level on Windows 7. However, both “Connect to office” and “Sync to SharePoint workspace” are greyed out. It has been suggested to me that an Active X control provided with Office 2010 is needed to make them work. I have a mixture of Office 2010 and 2007. If you have any suggestions on how “Connect to office” and “Sync to SharePoint workspace” can be made to work for users with Office 2007, I’d be very grateful.

    Regards,

    George

  4. I noticed that the 64 bit version of IE 8 on Windows 7 has a few issues with both Sharepoint 2007 and 2010. When editing on a SP 2007 list the 64 bit version does not allow rich text editing however the 32 bit version works fine. When a link is posted on a SP 2010 content editor the 64 bit version does not allow for specific page direction
    (such as http://www.?.?/test.pdf#page=3) on a pdf. The link merely opens the file in Acrobat (not SP) and goes to the first page in the file. 32 bit IE opens it normally.

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