How to Identify Browser Version

Internet browsers have been an integral part of a computer's operating system (Windows being an excellent example of an operating system) since the Internet became commonplace. Internet Explorer is provided with every Microsoft Windows installation as the default Internet Browser. If you have an Apple Macintosh, the default browser is Safari, while Linux offers you a choice of browsers, most notably Mozilla Firefox. It should be noted that Firefox is available for almost all operating systems, and can be downloaded and installed for free.

Instructions

1. For Microsoft Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, (Millennium Edition) NT, and 2000, click the "Start" button. Choose Programs, then choose Internet Explorer.
   On many, if not most Microsoft Windows installations, an Internet Explorer icon is placed on the Windows Desktop or in the Quick Launcher, which can be found immediately to the right of the "Start" Button.
   The Internet Explorer icon looks like a blue, lower case, "e" with a meteor circling it. If you see this icon, either on your computer desktop or on the Quick Launcher, click it (or double click it, as required) to launch the Browser.

2. With Microsoft XP, Vista and above, software packages (like Internet Explorer) which are not regularly used are removed from the menu bar to keep the menu bar from appearing cluttered.
   In this case, the steps are essentially the same. Click the "Start" Button, then choose "All Programs," and then choose Internet Explorer.

3. Once the browser is opened up, select the "Help" Menu, and then choose "About Internet Explorer." The very first line, under the Microsoft logo and the program title will be the version number. The "Help" menu is located to the far right of the Menu Bar which begins with "File," Edit" and "View."

4. If you are using another browser, Mozilla Firefox for example, the steps are exactly the same. Click the "Start" Button, choose "Programs," and then choose Firefox. For later versions of Microsoft Windows (XP and above) click the "Start" Button, then choose "All Programs," and then choose Firefox. The "About" feature will list the browser version number.

5. It should be noted that almost every software package, in almost every operating system stores the version number in exactly the same location. This includes all versions of Linux, BSD, (another Unix variant) as well as all versions of Apple Computer's OS.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your browser version number in a Word or Notepad file on your desktop for easy access.

References

• Which Versions of Internet Explorer are Affected by Security Issues?
• How to Tell Which Software Version Your Computer is Using
• Finding your Firefox Version

Resources

• Information about Internet Explorer Versions