How to Change Browser Settings on Windows

Browser settings allow control of personal privacy and other aspects of a computer.

By manipulating browser settings in Windows Internet Explorer, you may protect your personal privacy, secure your computer and control preferences to make the browser operate to your satisfaction. The look of your browser, the sites you are allowed to browse, and the settings of programs such as email and HTML may be controlled from the browser settings option.

Instructions

General

1. Set a homepage. Click "Start," open Internet Explorer and go to the webpage you would like to set as your homepage. Click the arrow to the right of the "Home" button. Click "Add or Change Home Page." In the dialog box, click "Use this web page as your only home page". If you would like to have multiple homepage tabs, click "Add this webpage to your home page tabs." Click "Yes" to save.

2. Delete your browsing history. Open Internet Explorer. Go to "Browsing history" at the top of the browser and click "Delete." Delete sites individually or select and deleted them all.

3. Change your search provider. Open Internet Explorer and click the arrow to the right of the search box in your browser. Click on "Find More Providers," then "Add Search Provider." If the search provider you are using is the one you want as your default, click "Make this my default search provider." Otherwise, select "Use search suggestions from this provider" to browse available options, choose one and click "Add."

4. Choose default fonts and colors displayed on webpages, and override colors and fonts chosen by web designers for their pages. Open Internet Explorer, click "Tools," then click "Internet Options." Click the "General" tab, then click "Accessibility." Click "Ignore colors specified on webpages" and "Ignore font styles specified on webpages." Click "OK" to save.

Security and Privacy

1. Open Internet Explorer, click on "Tools," "Internet Options" and the "Security" tab to display your security options. From here you may change your security level from medium to high by checking a box, indicate sites as trusted sites, and restrict certain sites. Copy and paste the web address in the appropriate box for sites you want to trust or restrict.

2. Open Internet Explorer, click on "Tools," "Internet Options" and the "Privacy" tab to display your privacy settings. Choose to block pop-up windows and to block or allow cookies for specific websites.

3. Open Internet Explorer, click on "Tools," "Internet Options" and the "Content" tab to utilize parental controls. Blocking access to specific websites for certain user accounts, such as those used by your children.

References

• Microsoft Windows: Internet Explorer browser settings