How to Switch From Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox

If you're tired of the slow downs and errors of Internet Explorer, then maybe it's time to try something new, possibly safer and more efficient. It's a free web browser called Mozilla Firefox. It's a good idea to have more than one web browser anyway; so why not give this one a try?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access (preferably high speed and one that you own)
• Brief downloading knowledge
• Access to Mozilla Firefox's website

How to Switch to Firefox From Internet Explorer

1. Go to the website listed below in the Resources section (http://www.mozilla.com).

2. Once there, click the large button on the screen labeled "download Firefox--free." Then wait for the download to begin. A dialog box then appears that asks "would you like to save this file?" Click the "save file" button on the left.

3. Once the file is downloaded, click install and follow the on screen step by step prompts. Your browser will restart with Google.com as your home page. If you would like to change this, go to "tools" on the top menu and select the "main" tab.

4. Type in your new home page web address and click the OK button on the bottom of the screen to save this new address. The next time you open Mozilla, the page should automatically default to this.

5. You won't notice many differences in using Mozilla but you may not be able to access some websites that are not compatible with Mozilla; so keep Internet Explorer around. The buttons may be a bit different, but you can still have all the toolbars on the top of it, such as yahoo and Google.

6. Your "favorites" are now known as "Bookmarks" and can be located under the Bookmarks menu. To save a favorite page, click "bookmarks," and "bookmark this page. You can also organize by placing it into a folder, similar to the process in Internet Explorer.

7. HELP! Don't worry, menus are virtually alike in this web browser as to Internet Explorer, but if do you get stuck, click the help menu and explore the choices beneath it. You can also search by topic if you are looking for something specific.

8. Firefox also has a neat feature called "Foxmarks" where you can install an add-on (by accessing the tools menu), save a username and password and then access your favorites on any computer with Firefox by entering your username and password. This is an invaluable feature and built right in to the browser.

9. MOST OFTEN USED FEATURES:
   
   If you would like to make the text size bigger, simply click the "view" menu on the top of your screen and then select "text size."
   
   If you would like to go back to your starting (home) page, just click the house on the top of the page.
   
   If you would like to refresh the page, hit the F5 key.
   
   The back and forward button functions remain the same. History is also the same. You can set the number of days, etc. and customize it to your needs.
   
   You can still save passwords inside the browser if that is something you prefer to do.

Tips & Warnings

• It is perfectly acceptable and good practice to use more than one browser. You can even have more than one open at the same time.
• Do not give up! Practice using Mozilla until you get comfortable with it. Explore the menus and icons at the top of the page.
• If Mozilla Firefox freezes or gives updates/warnings, close it and restart it as normal.
• Save Mozilla as an icon on your desktop if it does not appear there already.
• You will still need Antivirus and Antispyware software, although this is supposedly more secure. I have seen it hijacked at times; so beware.
• Do not abandon Internet Explorer completely, you will still need it for some websites.

Resources

• Firefox website for downloading this web browser

[MidniteWriter]

on 3/8/2009 You can still use Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome and more to browse. Good luck..please tell what browser you use for the web. Have you switched? Let me know my ehow friends. I like the web a lot!

[KatYares]

on 1/20/2008 Although I have IE7 installed, I've never opened it. I've yet to find a site that doesn't work with Firefox (of course, it could be I don't go enough places online). Firefox is the best of the browsers.

[MidniteWriter]

on 12/17/2007 Thank you for reading :) Glad you enjoyed. There are still quite a few people that I run across that do not know about this.

[favefive]

on 12/17/2007 Great info! I use both...my default is Firefox but I hit IE every now and then :)