Browser Support for SharePoint 2010, SharePoint 2013

Last updated: Aug 2016

For current support, see QueryVision Web Parts for IBM Cognos – Whats New and Supported Platforms

This article applies to support prior to QueryVision SharePoints for Web Parts for IBM Cognos V 2016.1 (Aug 2016)

Browser support for SharePoint is more complex than you might expect, particularly for SharePoint 2013.

SharePoint 2010

Summarized from Plan Browser support  in SharePoint 2010

Internet Explorer

  • IE 7 to 11
    • Internet Explorer 11 edge mode is not supported. Add sites to the Compatibility View list to make some features work.
  • Full support for 32 bit versions
  • Limited 64 bit support
    • 32 bit is required where Active-X controls are used.

Non-Internet Explorer

Features that require Active-X controls will not work for non-IE browsers.

SharePoint 2013

Summarized from Plan Browser Support in SharePoint 2013

IE is the only fully supported version with Chrome/Firefox and Safari as “second tier” support. This 3rd party assessment of browser support for SharePoint 2013 provides some additional insight.

Internet Explorer

SharePoint 2013 requires a minimum of IE 8.

  • IE 8 to 11
    • Internet Explorer 11 edge mode is not supported. Add sites to the Compatibility View list to make some features work.
  • Full support for 32 bit versions
  • Limited 64 bit support
    • 32 bit is required where Active-X controls are used.
  • Windows 8/8.1 – use desktop mode (vs. metro/”immersive” mode)

It is highly recommended to be on SharePoint 2013 SP1 or higher. While many IE11 issues were addressed by SP 2013 SP1, IE 10 is the preferred choice.

The default SP Master Page includes X-UA-COMPATIBLE set to IE=10. In practice this means that the IE “Document Mode” will be set to:

  • IE 8 will run in “IE = IE 8 Standards”
  • IE 9 will run in “IE = IE 9 Standards”
  • IE 11 will run in “IE = IE 10 Standards”

Note: There are a number of recommendations for various IE rendering issues, including a suggestion by Cognos to change the X-UA-COMPATIBLE setting via SharePoint Master Pages or otherwise set the IE “Document Mode” (including configuring IIS, Apache). This can cause SharePoint pages to be cosmetically or functionally degraded.

Non-Internet Explorer

Features that require Active-X controls will not work for non-IE browsers.

  • Chrome, Firefox (latest versions)
  • Safari (latest OS X versions. Windows Safari 5.X is not supported)