Moving To A New Home Page - Internet Explorer

The term "Home Page" can be confusing, because it is used to describe very different things.  The question, "Do you have your own home page?" generally refers to whether or not you have your own Web site.  The "home page" of a Web site refers to the first page.  However, if someone asks about your browser's home page, that is another question altogether.

If you're using Internet Explorer to browse the Web, then your browser has a home page of its very own.  This home page is simply the first page that automatically shows up on your screen after you get connected to the Internet, and have chosen to go into Internet Explorer.  Since this page is the first thing you see every time you log on, many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) take the opportunity to set your browser's default home page to their company's Web site.  If you are getting your Internet access through an ISP who has not taken this liberty, then guess what?  You are probably getting Microsoft's home page when you first log on.  What these companies bank on is the fact that most of us will not know that this home page setting can be changed to whatever page we want to see when we first log on.  (This statement is not cynical.)  Are you sick of seeing the same page every time you log on to the Internet?  Let's change it!

Internet Explorer

Once you are in Internet Explorer, go to the Web page that you would like to make your new starting point.

Click on Tools, and then click on Internet Options....  This is the place to go to change most settings that can be changed in Internet Explorer.  When you get a moment, take a look at all of the different screens that are available under this Internet Options... heading.  But for now let's stick to changing that Home Page.

Click on the General tab.  Now take a look under the header Home page, right at the top of the screen.

See that Web address in the white box?  That is your browser's home page -- ready to be changed! Since you are already on the page that you would like to make your new starting page, click on the button.  Then make sure to click on "OK" at the bottom of the screen.  That's it!  You have now changed the way that you will look at the Web!

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Copyright © 2001 Introduction to the Internet
Last modified: August 29, 2001