How to Turn off Image Compression in AOL

In order to speed up your surfing experience, AOL's default settings automatically compress images to make them load faster. Often this makes photos and graphics look poor in quality. Here's how to change your settings.

To see images on websites the way the designers intended to, AOL users need to make sure that your web preferences are not set for compressed graphics. If you are using compressed graphics, many images, especially photos can look very poor in quality. This can also include background images.

Here is how to check for AOL Image Compression and make changes:

1. Click on "Settings" or "Members" on the main tool bar.
2. Click on "Preferences".
3. Click on "WWW".
4. Click on the "Web Graphics" tab at the top of the window.
5. Make sure that "Use Compressed Graphics" does NOT have a check mark beside it. If it does, then uncheck the box and then click on "apply".
6. Then click on "OK" and close all windows.
   

If there was a check mark beside "Use Compressed Graphics", you will also need to erase all of our files from your Temporary Internet Files directory. If you don't, you will not notice any difference the next time you visit previously viewed web pages.

1. Click the "Start" button and open "Settings" --> Control Panel.
2. Once you are in your Control Panel, open the "Internet Options" icon.
3. Click the "Delete Files" button in the Temporary Internet Files box.
   

Now go back to your web browser and reload this page. You will now be able to see the differences between the two photo images above.

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