Fixing AOL Graphics

If ever asked about blurry graphics on the web, AOL tech support will never tell you that the problem is actually caused by their graphics compression scheme. What this means is that when you use the AOL browser, it automatically reduces the quality of images so that it loads faster. This was probably not done to aid their users' WWW experience, but rather to reduce the workload on their own servers, given that they never admit that this is the problem to users.

Although they will never explain to you that you can do this, they have provided a way to turn image compression off. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to do this with the different versions of AOL's software (back to 3.0 only).

(AOL 3.0 Instructions), (AOL 4.0 and 5.0 Instructions), (AOL 6.0 Instructions)

AOL 3.0 Instructions

1. Click "Members" from the menu bar.
2. Choose "Preferences", then click the "WWW" icon.
3. Click the tab "Web Graphics"
4. Uncheck the "Use Compressed Graphics" box, so that there is NO check in the box!
5. Click the "General" tab.
6. Under "Temporary Internet Files", click "Delete Files"

AOL 4.0 and 5.0 Instructions

1. Click "My AOL" from the top menu bar.
2. Choose "Preferences", then click the WWW icon.
3. Click the "Web Graphics" tab at the top.
4. UNCHECK the box next to "Use compressed graphics". Make sure there is no check in the box!
5. Click the "General" tab at the top.
6. Under "Temporary Internet Files", click "Delete Files".

AOL 6.0 Instructions

1. Click "Settings" from the top menu bar.
2. Choose "Preferences", then click on "Internet Properties (WWW)".
3. Click the "Web Graphics" tab at the top.
4. Select the "Never Compress Graphics" option.
5. Click the "General" tab at the top.
6. Under "Temporary Internet Files", click "Delete Files".

This should get you by, but if you use a different AOL version, it is probably slightly different. Use the above as a guideline to try to find the "compressed graphics" option in your software. This will enhance your web browsing experience greatly!