by David B Hitchcock

Created on: December 24, 2010   Last Updated: August 26, 2011

How to change your browser's home page

Nearly everyone is using computers and surfing the Internet. When you first start your computer and your Internet browsing application, such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer, the default web page that comes up first is your home page.

A home page is a web page address that you select that is a default page when you open a new window in your browser, or when it first starts up. It is a starting location. Often people choose a web page they frequently visit such as a news or weather page, or even a search web page such as Google.com if you find you are always looking for things on the Internet.

How you change your browser’s home page changes slightly depending on which web browser you are using. Some popular web browsers are Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Safari. All of the following steps for changing your home page assume that the web browser you select is already installed on your computer and has been configured, with the exception of the home page. If this is not the case, please install the browser before continuing.

To check your home page, on your browser look for an picture that looks like a house. This is known as the home button, and will bring you to your home page.

Now to change your home page to the web page of your choice.

• Mozilla Firefox for Microsoft Windows PC

Firefox has quickly grown into one of the most used browsers on the Internet. It has a cute orange and blue fox symbol as its logo. These instructions were written using Firefox 3.6.

To change the home page in Firefox:

1. Start Firefox.

2. Go to Tools and then Options.

3. In the Home Page field, enter the full URL address of the web page you want for your home page. For example, enter something like http://mywebpage.com. Alternately you can choose the page the browser is currently viewing to save typing.

4. Select OK to apply your changes.

5. Check that your new home page settings work properly. If not, go back and fix any errors.

• Microsoft Internet Explorer for Microsoft Windows PC

Internet Explorer, or IE for short, has long been the most used web browser. However, Firefox has gained in popularity lately to challenge for the number one spot. These instructions were written using IE 8.0.

To change the home page in IE:

1 Start Internet Explorer.

2 Go to Tolls and Internet Options.

3 In the Home Page field, enter the full URL address of the web page you want for your home page. For example, enter something like http://mywebpage.com. Alternately, you can choose the page the browser is currently viewing to save typing.

4 Select OK to apply your changes.

5 Check that your new home page settings work properly. If not, go back and fix any errors.

• Apple Safarifor MacOS

An up-and-coming web browser is Safari. It is the default browser on MacOS computer and iPhones, and is also popular on Linux computers. These instructions were written using Safari 5.0.3.

To change the home page on Safari

1 Open Safari.

2 Press Command, to bring up the preferences window.

3 Select General.

4 In the Home Page field, enter the full URL address of the web page you want for your home page. For example, enter something like http://mywebpage.com. Alternately you can choose the page the browser is currently viewing to save typing.

5 Close the window.

6 Check that your new home page settings work properly. If not. go back and fix any errors.

No matter what web browser you are using, or even what computer you are using, setting your home page is straightforward and easy to check once you have changed it.

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