How Do I Turn on JavaScipt?

JavaScript is a programming language designed for the Web, and is designed to run on the "client side" of an Internet connection -- which is your own computer, specifically the browser you are using to view Web pages. Many Web sites on the Internet today are built with the expectation that you have JavaScript turned on in your browser. If you do not, those pages will not display and operate as intended. JavaScript programs allow an interactive user experience, but they require JavaScript interpretation to be turned on in your browser.

Instructions

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the compact "Firefox" button in the top-left corner of the browser screen. In the drop-down menu, in the right side of that menu click "Options" to open the configuration window.

2. Click the icon at the top of the options configuration menu labeled "Content." In the resulting screen, looking in the top section of the options window, place a check mark in the selection box to the left of "Enable JavaScript."

3. Click the "Advanced" button to the right of "Enable JavaScript." A dialog box appears with the following options: "Move or resize existing windows," "Resize or lower windows", and "Disable or replace context menus." For the highest security, make sure there are no check boxes in any of these selections. If you are comfortable with allowing JavaScript to make the changes that those selections permit, place check marks in any of the boxes desired. Click "OK" to exit that dialog box, then click "OK" on the main window to complete the JavaScript activation for Firefox. Restart the browser for the changes to take effect.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer browser. Click the small icon that looks like a gear, or wheel, in the top-right corner of the browser. This icon is immediately under the "X" button which is used to close the browser.

2. Locate the icon at the top of the new configuration window, labeled "Internet." Wait for the next window to appear on your screen, then click the button near the bottom labeled "Custom Level." Scroll down the list of settings until you see a section called "Scripting." Click the radio button next to "Enable," next to "Active Scripting," to enable JavaScript. For best security, it is fine to leave the other selections set as they are, though you may research them and change them if desired.

3. Click "OK" at the bottom of the window to close it. Click "OK" on the main window to close it as well, then restart Internet Explorer for the changes to become active.

Apple Safari Browser

1. Start the Safari browser. At the top of the browser screen, left-click on "Preferences." In the resulting window, left-click on the "Security" tab.

2. Locate the window section labeled "Web Content" and place a check mark in the box to the left of "Enable JavaScript" by left-clicking in the box.

3. Close the "Preferences" window in which you made the changes, then shut down the browser completely. Restart the browser for your changes to be activated.

Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome browser, then click on "Options." In the options dialog, locate and click "Under The Hood."

2. Click "Content Settings" to open up the content settings window, then click the JavaScript tab. Make sure all is enabled, then accept all changes and close the configuration screens.

3. Restart Google Chrome to make the changes active.

Opera Browser

1. Launch the Opera browser. Locate the compact "Menu" button in the top-left corner of the browser screen, then in the drop-down menu click "Settings."

2. Click "Quick Preferences" in the settings sub-menu, which will open a second sub-menu. In that sub-menu, click in the box to the left of "Enable JavaScript" to place a check mark in that box. Once a check mark appears in the box, JavaScript is activated.

3. Restart the Opera Web browser to ensure the changes are made active.

Tips & Warnings

• Web developers are using JavaScript with increasing frequency in their Web sites since the upcoming HTML 5 (Hyper-Text Markup Language) version is integrated very heavily with JavaScript for rich multimedia Internet programming. It is beneficial to have JavaScript turned on in your browser to take full advantage of all the new functionality that is becoming available.

References

• Terry's Computer Tips: How Can I Turn on JavaScript in Firefox
• Microsoft Support: How to Enable Scripting in Your Browser
• Louisana State University - Safari: Enable JavaScript
• ActivateJavascript: Activate and Enable JavaScript (Opera)