Microsoft’s Internet Explorer comes with a Compatibility View mode, which is basically a fallback feature to support websites that appear broken. If some websites are not loading properly on Internet Explorer (IE), you should definitely try Compatibility View. In this mode, websites are displayed as if you were viewing them in a previous version of the web browser. Thus, websites designed for older browsers will appear better on this mode. It also helps in overcoming display related problems that arises due to poor or outdated coding. It often corrects problems like broken menu, images not loading etc.
Compatibility View was introduced in IE 8. When this mode is enabled, it is applied to an entire domain, including sub-domains. The quickest way to use this feature is to press the Compatibility view button in the address bar. When the web browser recognizes that the web page is not compatible, that button appears on the Address bar. This button is present in IE version 8, 9 and 10. Microsoft removed it on Internet Explorer 11. But the Compatibility View mode is still present.
How to use Compatibility View in Internet Explorer 10?
- Go to address bar and type in the URL of the website you want to view in compatibility mode.
- At the end of address bar, you’ll notice a compatibility view button. Press it and the webpage will reload in Compatibility mode. Alternatively, go to Tools in your Menu bar and select Compatibility view from the menu.
That’s it! You’ve just turned on Compatibility View for that website. Form now on, whenever you visit that website, it will be displayed in Compatibility View.
How to use Compatibility View in Internet Explorer 11?
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Go to Tools in the Menu bar and select ‘Compatibility View Settings’ from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, click on the ‘Gear‘ icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window and select ‘Compatibility View Settings‘ from the Tools menu.
- The Compatibility View settings window will appear. In the ‘Add this website‘ field, type the URL of the website you want to and press the Add button.
- That website will be added to the Internet Explorer Compatibility view list. Press the Close button to close the dialog box.
Compatibility View button missing
Microsoft Internet Explorer’s compatibility view button is missing from address bar? Wondering why? Check the following points.
- The compatibility view button appears only when you open a webpage. It remains hidden in blank browser window.
- It appears only on webpages in which the browser recognizes some compatibility issues. So, you are not going to see that in all websites.
- Compatibility view button is present only in IE 8, IE 9 and IE 10. Developers removed it from the Internet Explorer 11.