How to Enable JavaScript

Information on how to enable it in most browsers is provided below, compiled from various sources. If yours is not listed please visit the site of the company that provides your particular browser and search for "enable javascript."

To find your browser version, check the Help > About menu if available.

Internet Explorer:    8    7    5/6    5 (Mac OS X)    5 (Mac OS 9)    4    3 
Mozilla Firefox:    1.5/2/3    1     Netscape:    8    7    6    4    3 
Mozilla:    1     Opera:    8/9    7    5     AOL:    7+    4/5    3 

 Home Page    Welcome Page

Internet Explorer 8   

  1. Click on the Tools button (the picture of the gear).
  2. Click on Internet Options….
  3. Click the Security tab.
  4. In the “Security level for this zone” box, click on Custom level….
  5. Scroll toward the bottom of the Settings box to Scripting.
  6. Enable active scripting.
  7. Click OK twice to close the dialogue.
  8. Click the Refresh button after the Address Bar at the top of your browser, or hit F5.

Internet Explorer 7   

  1. Click on the Tools button (the picture of the gear) or “Tools” from the program menu.
  2. Click on Internet Options….
  3. Click the Security tab.
  4. In the “Security level for this zone” box, click on Custom level….
  5. Scroll toward the bottom of the Settings box to Scripting.
  6. Enable active scripting.
  7. Click OK twice to close the dialogue.
  8. Click the Refresh button after the Address Bar at the top of your browser, or hit F5.

Internet Explorer 5.x & 6.x   

  1. Select Internet Options from the Tools menu.
  2. In Internet Options dialog box select the Security tab.
  3. Click Custom level button at bottom. The Security settings dialog box will pop up.
  4. Under Scripting category enable Active Scripting, Allow paste options via script and Scripting of Java applets
  5. Click OK twice to close out.
  6. Hit Refresh.

Internet Explorer 5 for Mac OS X   

  1. Select Preferences from the Explorer menu.
  2. Click the arrow next to Web Browser.
  3. Click Web Content.
  4. Under Active Content check Enable Scripting.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Refresh.

Internet Explorer 5 for Mac OS 9   

  1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  2. Click the arrow next to Web Browser.
  3. Click Web Content.
  4. Under Active Content check Enable Scripting.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Refresh.

Internet Explorer 4.x   

  1. Select Internet Options from the View menu.
  2. Click the Security tab.
  3. Click Custom.
  4. Click Settings.
  5. Scroll down to locate Scripting.
  6. Click Enable for Active Scripting.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click Reload.

Internet Explorer 3.x   

  1. Select Options from the View menu.
  2. Click Security.
  3. Check Enable Java Programs.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Reload.

Mozilla Firefox 1.5, 2 & 3   

  1. Click on the Tools menu.
  2. Select Options….
  3. Click the Content tab with the Earth graphic.
  4. Check Enable JavaScript.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload or hit F5.

Mozilla Firefox 1.0   

  1. Select 'Tools' from the top menu
  2. Choose 'Options'
  3. Choose 'Web Features' from the left navigation
  4. Select the checkbox next to 'Enable JavaScript' and click OK

Netscape 8.x   

  1. Select Options... from the Tools menu.
  2. In the list on the left, select Site Controls and then select one of the options under Master Settings.
  3. Check (to enable) the box next to Enable JavaScript.

Netscape 7.x   

  1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  2. Click the arrow next to Advanced.
  3. Click Scripts & Plugins.
  4. Check Navigator beneath "Enable Javascript for".
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.

Netscape 6.x   

  1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  2. Click Advanced
  3. Check Enable JavaScript for Navigator
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Reload.

Netscape 4.x   

  1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  2. Click Advanced.
  3. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Reload.

Netscape 3.x   

  1. Select Options from the Edit menu.
  2. Click Network Preferences.
  3. Click Languages.
  4. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.

Mozilla 1.x   

  1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  2. Click the arrow next to Advanced.
  3. Click Scripts & Plugins.
  4. Check Navigator beneath "Enable Javascript for".
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.

Opera 8 & 9   

  1. Select the Tools menu.
  2. Select Quick Preferences.
  3. Check Enable JavaScript
  4. Click Reload or hit F5 to refresh the page.

Opera 7.x   

  1. Select Quick Preferences from the File menu.
  2. Make sure Enable Javascript is checked.
  3. Click Reload.

Opera 5.x   

  1. Select Quick Preferences from the File menu.
  2. Make sure Enable Javascript is checked.
  3. Click Reload.

AOL 7.0 and above    

  1. Select Preferences from the Settings menu.
  2. Click Internet Properties (WWW) under Organization.
  3. Click the Security tab.
  4. Check the Custom Level button.
  5. Scroll down to locate Scripting.
  6. For Active Scripting click Enable.
  7. Click OK, and then OK again to close all dialogs.
  8. Close the Preferences window, and then Reload the page.
    * See "Note to AOL users" below.

AOL 4.0 and 5.0   

  1. Click My AOL.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Click WWW.
  4. Click the Security tab.
  5. Click Custom.
  6. Click Settings.
  7. Scroll down to locate Scripting.
  8. Click Enable for Active Scripting.
  9. Click OK, then click the Reload button.
    * See "Note to AOL users" below.

Note to AOL users 4.0 and above   
When using the use AOL browser, you may get a Javascript error but, when using an external browser (i.e., Netscape or Internet Explorer) this does not occur. AOL uses compressed graphics by Default. This doesn't allow Java to work while browsing inside AOL. (Additionally, this makes photos you view on web pages look less than optimal.)

Do the following:

  1. Click My AOL.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Click the WWW icon.
  4. Click Web Graphics tab.
  5. Uncheck the box next to Use Compressed Graphics.
  6. Click OK Restart the computer.

Note that there are both 16-bit and 32-bit versions of AOL 4.0. Only the 32-bit version has full Java capabilities.

AOL 3.0   

  1. Click Prefs.
  2. Click Security.
  3. Check Enable Java Programs, if the box is blank, single click on it.
  4. Click OK .
  5. Click the browser's back button, once back, click reload.
 Home Page    Welcome Page   Back to Top