Microsoft Windows XP users

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Click the Display icon. If this icon is not found, open the Appearance and Themes option and then click the Display icon.
  • Click the desktop tab.
  • Click the Customize Desktop button.
  • Click the Web tab in the Desktop Items window.

If you want to enable the Active Desktop, check My Current Home Page. Add your current homepage into your desktop or click New to add another web page or other Active Desktop features. To update the content, click the Synchronize button.

The Windows Active Desktop is a feature included in Windows 95 (with the release of Internet Explorer 4.0) through Windows XP. It was discontinued and replaced with Windows Sidebar in Windows Vista (renamed to Windows Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7) and live tiles in Windows 8.

If you want to disable Active Desktop, make sure all check boxes in this window are unchecked.

Microsoft Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 users

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Double-click the Display icon.
  • Click the Web tab in the Display Properties window.

If you want to enable the Active Desktop, check the check box for Show Web content on my Active Desktop and select the homepage you want to use as the active desktop.

If you want to disable Active Desktop, make sure Show Web content on my Active Desktop is unchecked.

  • See the Active Desktop definition for further information and related links.
  • Microsoft Windows help and support.