Speed Up Internet Explorer with the AOL Toolbar: Tips & TricksInternet Explorer (IE) remains in use in some workplaces and on older machines. If you rely on IE and use the AOL Toolbar, you can tune the toolbar and browser to improve performance, reduce page-load times, and avoid conflicts that slow your system. This article walks through practical, tested tips and tricks to speed up Internet Explorer when the AOL Toolbar is installed — covering simple settings, deeper optimizations, troubleshooting steps, and alternatives when performance can’t be salvaged.
Why the AOL Toolbar can affect IE performance
The AOL Toolbar adds features (search, pop-up blocking, bookmarks, quick links, mail notifications) by injecting browser UI and processes into IE. While handy, these integrations can:
- Increase startup time as the toolbar initializes.
- Add background network requests (for search suggestions, live updates, mail checks).
- Introduce conflicts with other toolbars or browser extensions.
- Increase memory and CPU usage, especially on older machines.
If you need a fast, minimal browsing experience, reducing the toolbar’s footprint or disabling specific features often helps significantly.
Quick checks before you start
- Backup important bookmarks and settings.
- Ensure Windows updates and IE updates (or cumulative patches) are installed.
- Note your IE version: the available settings and UI differ between IE8, IE9, IE10, and IE11.
- Close other heavy applications to make troubleshooting clearer.
1) Disable unneeded AOL Toolbar features
The fastest wins come from turning off live features you don’t use.
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Locate the AOL Toolbar area, click the toolbar menu (gear or settings icon) or right-click the toolbar.
- Disable features you don’t need: live mail notifications, auto-updates, search suggestions, automatic news or weather feeds.
- Turn off automatic sign-in or background sync if present.
Result: fewer background network calls and lower CPU usage.
2) Turn off toolbar on startup or remove from IE add-ons
If the toolbar isn’t essential, prevent it from loading with IE.
- In IE: Tools (gear) → Manage add-ons → Toolbars and Extensions.
- Find AOL Toolbar entries. Select each one and click “Disable.”
- Restart IE and measure startup/load times.
If disabling fixes speed issues but you occasionally need AOL features, enable the toolbar only when necessary.
3) Update or reinstall the AOL Toolbar
Corrupted or outdated installs can cause leaks and slow behavior.
- Check for the latest AOL Toolbar updates from AOL’s support pages.
- If issues persist, uninstall via Control Panel → Programs and Features, then reinstall the latest version.
- Reboot after reinstalling.
A fresh install can remove corrupted components and resolve memory leaks.
4) Reduce add-on conflicts
Multiple toolbars and browser extensions commonly clash.
- Tools → Manage add-ons → Show: All add-ons.
- Disable nonessential toolbars and extensions (especially ones that also alter the UI or add network features).
- Keep only trusted add-ons enabled.
Tip: Run IE in “No Add-ons” mode (press Windows key, type “Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)”) to compare performance. If it’s much faster, an add-on is likely the bottleneck.
5) Adjust IE performance settings
Tuning IE itself helps regardless of toolbars.
- Tools → Internet options → Advanced tab. Under Browsing, try toggling:
- “Do not save encrypted pages to disk” (can help in some secure sites).
- “Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering” (toggle if GPU issues occur).
- Under General → Browsing history → Settings, reduce the cache size or set to check for newer versions of stored pages “Every visit to the page” (this increases requests; for speed choose “Automatically” or a longer interval).
- Clear temporary internet files, cookies, and history regularly: General → Browsing history → Delete.
6) Limit startup items and background processes
A slow system, not just IE, can cause poor browser performance.
- Use Task Manager to check CPU/RAM/disk usage.
- Disable unnecessary startup programs (Task Manager → Startup tab or msconfig).
- Scan for malware/PUAs — unwanted apps can stealthily slow network and CPU. Use reputable antivirus and anti-malware tools.
7) Network and DNS optimizations
Some toolbar features rely on external services. Optimizing network settings helps.
- Restart your router and modem.
- Use a faster DNS provider (Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8) in your network adapter settings.
- If on Wi‑Fi, test with a wired connection to rule out wireless issues.
8) Advanced: Registry and group policy tweaks (Windows advanced users)
Warning: editing the registry can break Windows if done incorrectly. Back up the registry first.
- Use gpedit.msc (if available) to restrict browser add-ons or control updates centrally.
- Registry keys for IE and BHOs (Browser Helper Objects) can be used to disable problematic BHOs tied to toolbars.
Only proceed if comfortable with Windows system administration.
9) When to uninstall the AOL Toolbar entirely
Consider full removal if:
- Disabling features or add-ons doesn’t help.
- You don’t actively use core toolbar features.
- The toolbar frequently causes crashes or conflicts.
Uninstall via Control Panel → Programs and Features, then restart. Use an uninstaller tool (Revo Uninstaller or similar) to remove leftover registry entries if necessary.
10) Alternatives and replacements
If you like the toolbar’s features but want better performance:
- Use a lightweight browser that still supports necessary features (Edge, Chrome, Firefox). Many offer extensions that replicate AOL Toolbar features more efficiently.
- Use web-based bookmarks and mail clients (Gmail, Outlook.com) instead of a constantly running toolbar.
- Install only one trusted extension for search or bookmarks to minimize conflicts.
Comparison (AOL Toolbar vs. browser extension approach):
| Aspect | AOL Toolbar (in IE) | Modern browser extension |
|---|---|---|
| Integration with IE UI | Deep; can slow startup | Shallow; usually lighter |
| Background network calls | Often enabled by default | Typically optional and controllable |
| Compatibility with modern browsers | Limited | Wide (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) |
| Ease of removal | Requires Control Panel uninstall | Disable/remove in browser settings |
Troubleshooting checklist
- Run IE without add-ons to test baseline.
- Disable AOL Toolbar features one-by-one to find the culprit.
- Update or reinstall the toolbar.
- Clear IE cache and reset Internet Options → Advanced → Reset.
- Check Task Manager for memory/CPU spikes and identify processes.
- Scan for malware.
- Try a different browser to confirm whether the issue is IE-specific.
Final notes
For older hardware or enterprise setups stuck on Internet Explorer, minimizing active toolbars, disabling nonessential background features, and keeping software updated yield the best speed improvements. If the AOL Toolbar remains necessary, selectively disabling features and reducing add-on conflicts typically restores acceptable performance. If problems persist, move critical workflows to a modern browser and use extensions or web apps that replicate the toolbar’s functionality with less overhead.
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