Usability
To quickly open a link in a new window, hold down the Shift key while clicking on the link. For a new tab hold down the Ctrl key instead. By the way, these shorctus work also in Quero. Try it out!
A very annoying default setting of IE is that it launches hyperlinks in an arbitrary already opened IE window instead of spawning a new one. To change this setting go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced and uncheck "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts".
Right-click on a favorite in the Favorites menu and select "Sort by name".
Download and execute the following Registry file: Turn on special IE desktop icon (or turn it off). Refresh your desktop afterwards (right-click on your desktop, select Refresh).
If you have a small display and want to utilize more screen space for the Web page, you can disable the tab and command bar.
Security
An administrator can use IE's Content Advisor system to restrict Web access on that computer to a list of approved sites. The configuration steps are described in this support article.
Since IE6 xpsp2 (service pack 2) active content (e.g. ActiveX controls) stored on your computer is blocked by default. If you are a Web developer and want to view your Web pages locally, go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced and check "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer".
For some file types (e.g. PDF) IE is configured to automatically launch an external application or open the file inside the browser. If you rather want IE to display a download dialog before opening the file automatically, you have to edit the file type association. Open a file explorer window and select Tools > Folder Options > File Types. Select the desired file type, click on Advanced and check "Confirm open after download".
Privacy
Here is how you can restrict other sites than the one you are currently viewing from tracking your online activity. Go to Internet Options > Privacy > Advanced. Enable "Override automatic cookie handling" and choose to block third-party cookies. By default third-party cookies are not always blocked.
Performance
The HTTP standard [rfc2616] recommends a limit of 2 simultaneous connections per server. However, IE allows to tune this setting by adding two registry keys. This can be useful if you want to be able to simultaneously download files from a Web site and continue browsing that site.
Web publishing
Wondering when IE is actually using Standards-compliant mode? I recommend the MSDN documentation on the DOCTYPE Switch.
Due to a patent dispute between Microsoft and Eolas Technologies users had to activate Flash animations, video clips or Java applets with an unnecessary extra click between April 2006 and April 2008. Fortunately, there were workarounds for Web publishers available to avoid the activation in the affected IE versions. Detailed information about possible workarounds is provided in the MSDN article Activating ActiveX Controls.
Advanced settings
To change IE's user-agent string (the browser identification string that is sent along every HTTP request) you have to edit some values in the Windows registry under the key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\]. You can also edit the user-agent string with the Quero Toolbar or Quero Launcher. For more information, see Understanding User-Agent Strings.
If you want to view the HTML source of a Web page in another editor than notepad, create (or edit if already existing) the Windows registry key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\View Source Editor\Editor Name\]. Modify the "(Default)" value to make it point towards any program on your computer.
Troubleshooting
Open Tools > Internet Options > Programs, check "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser". After restarting IE you will be asked to make IE your default browser.
If you have problems with IE you may try to clear all user data and reset all settings.
In IE6 open Tools > Internet Options and perform the following steps:
- General: delete cookies and files, clear history
- Security: Default level
- Privacy: Default
- Programs: Reset Web Settings
- Advanced: Restore Defaults
In IE7 or higher go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced and click on Reset.