Once the default Web browser regardless of platform, Internet Explorer (IE) has lost favor with Mac users, as they tend to use Apple's Safari or Mozilla's Firefox browsers. To further complicate matters, Microsoft made the unpopular decision to discontinue Internet Explorer for Mac in 2003, and purged it from its site permanently in 2006. IE is still a workable option for Web surfing, and despite the fact that its functionality diminishes every time a new security measure is enabled on websites, it retains a loyal cult following among Mac users.
InternetExplorerforMac (also referred to as Internet Explorer for Macintosh, Internet Explorer Macintosh Edition, Internet Explorer:mac or IE:mac ) was a proprietary web browser developed by Microsoft for the Macintosh platform.
Understand that Microsoft has effectively disowned IE for Mac. Even if you do install a copy of Explorer for Mac, you may have trouble accessing sites that require authentication, use passwords or use some form of secure encryption.
Locate websites that specialize in legacy software for the Mac. A few of these sites are digg.com, pure-mac.com and wareseeker.com, but these types of sites tend to come and go on a regular basis.
Click on the Download Now link once you've found a site that has IE for Mac. Make sure you're downloading the latest version, 5.2.3.
Double-click on the DMG file on the desktop once the download is complete. Then double-click on the installer, and follow the prompts to install the software. You'll have to enter your admin password to proceed.
Don't expect to be able to get support or upgrade your IE, and once you're at version 5.2.3, you're on your own. As mentioned earlier, Microsoft has cut off all support for IE Mac, suggesting users migrate to Safari, Apple's Web browser program.
Tips
![Get Internet Explorer For Mac Get Internet Explorer For Mac](http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/use-internet-explorer-on-mac-610x343.jpg)
If you do finally cry uncle and decide to move on to Firefox or Safari, you will be able to import your bookmarks and other settings, avoiding a lengthy reconfiguration process.
Warnings
Every day, IE becomes less and less functional, so keep this in mind.
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The default browser is the web browser that is automatically used when opening a web page or clicking on a web link. This document explains how to choose the default browser for both Windows and OS X.
Windows
Internet Explorer 10 and 11
- In Internet Explorer, go to Tools (gear icon) > Internet Options.
- Click the Programs tab.
- Click Make Internet Explorer the default browser. You may optionally check the box that makes Explorer tiles open on the desktop. If you leave this unchecked, they will open in the metro interface. You can also specify how you want to open links.
- In Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options.
- Note: In newer versions of Internet Explorer, the Tools menu is represented by a Gear icon.
- Click the Programs tab.
- Click Make default. You may optionally check the box if you want Explorer to always check if it is the default browser.
- In Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options.
- Click the Programs tab.
At the bottom of this window, check the box labeled Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser. - Click OK.
- Restart Internet Explorer.
A window should appear asking whether Internet Explorer should be made the default browser. Click Yes (you may optionally uncheck the checkbox). - In Firefox, go to the orange Firefox button, then select Options > Options.
- Note: In older versions of Firefox, go to Tools > Options.
- Click Advanced, and then open the General tab.
- Click Check Now, and then click Yes in the new window that pops up. You may optionally check the box if you want Firefox to always check if it is the default browser.
- Open Firefox.
- Go to the menu button in the upper right hand corner, depicting 3 horizontal bars.
- Click on the Options, which has a gear symbol.
- Under the General tab, click on Make Firefox My Default Browser.
- In Chrome, click on the Customize and control Google Chrome icon .
- Note: In older versions of Chrome, click on the wrench icon .
- Click Settings.
- Under 'Default Browser,' click Make Google Chrome my default browser.
- Open Safari.
- Go to Safari > Preferences.
- While on the General tab, select the browser you want to use as default from the drop down menu.
- Open Firefox.
- Go to Firefox > Preferences.
- Click on the Advanced tab and then on the General tab.
- Under 'System Defaults,' click Check Now and then click Yes in the window that pops up. You may optionally check the box if you want Firefox to always check if it is the default browser.
- Open Firefox.
- Go to the menu button in the upper right hand corner, depicting 3 horizontal bars.
- Click on the Preferences, which has a gear symbol.
- Under the General tab, click on Make Firefox My Default Browser.
- Open Chrome.
- Go to Chrome > Preferences.
- Under 'Default Browser,' click Make Google Chrome My Default Browser.
Internet Explorer 7, 8, and 9
Internet Explorer 6
Firefox (Versions up to 34)
Firefox (Version 35+)
Google Chrome
OS X
Safari
Firefox (Versions up to 34)
Firefox (Version 35+)
Google Chrome
Keywords: | windows mac os x setting default web browser internet explorer netscape ie mozilla safari chrome googleSuggest keywords | Doc ID: | 918 |
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Owner: | Help Desk KB Team . | Group: | DoIT Help Desk |
Created: | 2001-02-15 18:00 CST | Updated: | 2018-06-14 14:08 CST |
Sites: | DoIT Help Desk, DoIT Tech Store, KB Demo, Parkland College, Peking University (北大) Test KB, University of Illinois Unified, UW Platteville, Washington State University | ||
Feedback: | 177CommentSuggest a new document |