Internet Explorer Compatibility View - Turn On or Off

How to Turn Internet Explorer Compatibility View On or Off for a Website
Published 30 Dec 2008

Published by

Brink

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How to Turn Internet Explorer
Compatibility View On or Off for a Website

Information

Websites that were designed for earlier versions of Internet Explorer might not display correctly in IE8, IE9, or IE10. When you turn on Compatibility View, the webpage you're viewing, as well as any other webpages within the website's domain, will be displayed as if you were using an earlier version of Internet Explorer.

This tutorial will show you how to add (turn on) and remove (turn off) websites to be displayed in Compatibility View.

Note

Not all website display problems are caused by browser incompatibility. Interrupted Internet connections, heavy traffic, or website bugs can also affect how a webpage is displayed.

OPTION ONE

Through the Internet Explorer Address Bar

NOTE: If Internet Explorer recognizes a webpage that is not compatible, you will see the Compatibility View icon button on the Address bar.

1. To Turn On Compatibily View for a Website in Internet Explorer
A) Click/tap on the unhighlighted Compatibility View icon button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The webpage will now reload with Compatibility View turned on for it.

2. To Turn Off Compatibily View for a Website in Internet Explorer
A) Click/tap on the highlighted (blue) Compatibility View icon button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The webpage will now reload with Compatibility View turned off for it.

OPTION TWO

Through the Tools Menu

NOTE: This will let you turn on or off Compatibility View for the current webpage.

1. Click/tap on the Tools Menu Bar (ALT+T) item. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If Compatibiliy View is grayed out, then the webpage has no compatibility issues and does not need to have Compatibility View turned on for it. You can still use METHOD THREE below to turn on Compatibility View for it though if you like.

A) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Click/tap on the Tools Command Bar button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If Compatibiliy View is grayed out, then the webpage has no compatibility issues and does not need to have Compatibility View turned on for it. You can still use METHOD THREE below to turn on Compatibility View for it though if you like.

3. To Turn On Compatibily View for a Website in Internet Explorer
A) Click/tap on Compatibiliy View to check it. (See screenshots above)
NOTE: The webpage will now reload with Compatibility View turned on for it.

4. To Turn Off Compatibily View for a Website in Internet Explorer
A) Click/tap on Compatibiliy View to uncheck it. (See screenshots above)
NOTE: The webpage will now reload with Compatibility View turned off for it.

OPTION THREE

Through Compatibily View Settings

NOTE: This will let you turn on or off Compatibility View for a webpage by adding or removing the webpage address from the Compatibility View list.

1. Click/tap on the Tools Menu Bar (ALT+T) item, and go to step 3 below. (See screenshot below)

OR

2. Click/tap on the Tools Command Bar button. (See screenshot below)

3. Click/tap on Compatibility View Settings. (See screenshots above)

4. To Add a Website to the Compatibility View List in Internet Explorer
A) Type in the webpage address that you want to turn on Compatibility View for, and click/tap on the Add button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The current webpage address will automatically be filled in for you. Just clear it if you want to add a different address instead.

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Remove a Website from the Compatibility View List in Internet Explorer
A) Select a listed webpage address that you want to turn off Compatibility View for, and click/tap on the Remove button. (See screenshot below)

6. Click/tap on the Close button. (See screenshots above)

That's it,
Shawn

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30 Dec 2008	#1
Joe Windows 7 RC 287 posts 127.0.0.1	Thanks for another excellent tutorial Shawn. I ran into compatibility issues with a website I visit. At first I didn't know what it was doing, then walla, your tutorial shed light on the issue. Thanks again!
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30 Dec 2008	#2
Brink 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise 46,982 posts Texas	You're welcome Joe.
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31 Dec 2008	#3
NormCameron Vista X32. Windows 7 32bit 592 posts Gladstone, Queensland	That was well worth the read Shawn, thanks again for the Tutorial Norm
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31 Dec 2008	#4
Brink 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise 46,982 posts Texas	You're welcome Norm. Thank you.
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31 Dec 2008	#5
garysgold Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64 3,194 posts Maine, USA	Thanks Shawn. Great job. Gary
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31 Dec 2008	#6
Brink 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise 46,982 posts Texas	You're welcome Gary.
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15 Mar 2011	#7
longnh Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 6 posts Hanoi, Vietnam	Hi Brink, thank for the tutor. I wonder if I can turn on Compatibility View for all sites by default? I'm using Windows 7 x64 SP1 and I got IE 9 installed. Thanks!
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15 Mar 2011	#8
Brink 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 & Windows 8 Enterprise 46,982 posts Texas	Hello Longnh, It's not recommended to use compatibility view on a website unless you are having some sort of issue with it in normal mode. However, the tutorial below will show you how to turn on compatibility view for all websites. Internet Explorer Compatilbility View - All Websites
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14 May 2011	#9
abhinav Windows 7 Ultimate x64 2 posts	thanx a lot...... worth a lot.............
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