Internet Explorer 8 RC 1 has now been released for download, please click here. If you have installed the IE8 Partner Build then you will not be automatically updated to this release.

RC 1 is short for “Release Candidate 1”. Release candidate software is ready to be evaluated by users while it undergoes final testing. You may experience minor bugs or compatibility issues with web sites while browsing. So the IE Team is urging you to still file them bugs with them on this build. For more information on what “RC 1” means see below or IE8: What’s After Beta 2 blog post.

Before installing, please read the Release Notes and more information about features and developer docs can be found in the IE8 Readiness Toolkit.

What does “RC1” mean?
Release candidate software is at a stage in the development process where it is ready to be evaluated by users while it undergoes final testing.

Internet Explorer 8 RC 1 is now platform and feature complete and this is your opportunity to be among the first to try out the new browser before its final release. Install it today and take it for a test drive. If you find issues with IE8, please let us know by filing a bug. In addition, you can uninstall the browser at any time. Instructions can be found at our support page for Internet Explorer 8 RC 1.

To ensure your browser is up to date, all RC1 users will be automatically updated with the final version of Internet Explorer 8 via Windows Update so you’ll always have the latest version of the browser.