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# Why Does My Access Web Browser Control Default to IE 7?
- URL: https://nolongerset.com/feature-browser-emulation/
- Published: 2022-04-28T03:43:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T12:58:03.000Z
- Description: If web pages don't look right on your Access web browser control, it might be due to a little-known registry setting.
- Author: Mike Wolfe
- Tags: Hidden Features, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59

## The Problem

1. Add the Web Browser control to a form in Access
2. Set its Control Source property to `="<https://www.whatismybrowser.com/>"`
3. Switch to Form View

After dismissing the JavaScript error dialogs, you should eventually see something like this:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/04/image-139.png)

What?!?! Why is the browser control still using Internet Explorer 7 Compatibility View in 2022?

## The Solution

It turns out you need to tell the browser control what "[emulation mode](https://www.devhut.net/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-the-access-webbrowser-control/)" you want to use for your application. 

To have the browser control use the latest available browser, navigate to the following registry key (you may need to create it):

`HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION`

Then add a new DWORD value of `msaccess.exe`, change the Base to "Decimal", and set its Value data to `12001`.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/04/image-142.png)

After making the change in the registry, close *ALL* open copies of Access. Reopen the Access application with the browser control and switch it to Form View:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/04/image-140.png)

## The Expert - Daniel Pineault

This quick tip is only one of many that Daniel Pineault covers in his tour de force article on the Access browser control: [Everything You Never Wanted to Know About the Access WebBrowser Control](https://www.devhut.net/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-the-access-webbrowser-control/). If you are doing *anything* with the Access web browser control, you owe it to yourself to take a few minutes and read Daniel's entire article.

Just look at this table of contents:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/04/image-143.png)

### External references

[Microsoft Access WebBrowser Control | DEVelopers HUTEverything You Never Wanted to Know About the Microsoft Access WebBrowser Control. The ins and outs of working with Access’ WebBrowser control.DEVelopers HUTDaniel Pineault](https://www.devhut.net/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-the-access-webbrowser-control/#Emulation)