# About helper applications

When you go to an Internet address or download a file to your computer, you can specify which application you want to handle the file. The application you specify is called a helper. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can specify protocol helpers and file helpers.

- Protocol helpers These are applications assigned to Internet addresses that use a particular protocol. The protocol tells Internet Explorer what type of information it’s about to display so it knows how to handle the information. By assigning a helper application to a protocol, you tell Internet Explorer which application you want to use to download files, open e-mail messages, read newsgroup messages, and more.
- File helpers These are applications assigned to files of a particular type. When you download a file, you have several choices for how you want Internet Explorer to handle the file. For example, you can open the file in the helper application you specify, or you can save the file to your hard disk.

Related topics

About Internet addresses

Changing your default e-mail or news application

Assigning a helper application to a protocol

Assigning a helper application to a file type

Installing a plug-in

Change your default e-mail or news application

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under Network, click Protocol Helpers.
3. Do one of the following:
   - To change your default e-mail application, click the mailto protocol.
   - To change your default news application, click the news protocol.
4. Click Change.
5. Click Choose Helper.
6. Click the application you want to use, and then click Open.
7. Click OK.

| To send and receive e-mail messages, you need an e-mail account.

Related topics

Entering your e-mail settings

About helper applications

Enter your e-mail settings

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under E-mail, click General.
3. In the Real name box, type the name you want to appear in the From field of your outgoing messages.
4. In the E-mail address box, type your e-mail address.
5. In the SMTP host box, type the name of your outgoing mail server.

| Microsoft Internet Explorer uses these e-mail settings when you submit information, such as a Web form, to a Web site by e-mail. You need an e-mail application and an e-mail account to send and receive e-mail messages.
| If you don’t know the name of your outgoing mail server (SMTP host), your Internet service provider (ISP) can give you this information.

Related topics

Changing your default e-mail or news application

Assign a helper application to a protocol

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under Network, click Protocol Helpers.
3. Do one of the following:
   - To add a protocol and assign a helper, click Add, and then type the protocol in the Helper for box.
   - To change the helper assignment for a protocol, click the one you want to change, and then click Change.
4. Click Choose Helper.
5. Click the application you want to assign to the protocol, and then click Open.
6. If you want Microsoft Internet Explorer to use an open application rather than the assigned helper, when possible, select the Use current application if possible check box.
7. Click OK.

| To sort the list of protocols, click a column heading.

Related topics

Changing your default e-mail or news application

Assigning a helper application to a file type

Assign a helper application to a file type

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under Receiving Files, click File Helpers.
3. Do one of the following:
   - To add a file type and assign a helper, click Add.
   - To change the helper assignment for a file type, click the one you want to change, and then click Change.
4. Select the options you want, and then click OK.

| If you install a plug-in, Microsoft Internet Explorer automatically updates the file helpers that the plug-in can use. If applicable, Internet Explorer also creates a new file helper for the plug-in.
| To sort the list of file types, click a column heading.

Related topics

Installing a plug-in

Enabling or disabling plug-ins

Changing download settings

Assigning a helper application to a protocol

Enable or disable plug-ins

1. On the Explorer menu, click Preferences.
2. Under Web Browser, click Web Content.
3. In the Active Content area, select or clear the Enable plug-ins check box.

Related topics

Installing a plug-in

Assigning a helper application to a file type

About Java and active content

Install a plug-in

1. Download the plug-in from the Internet, or locate the plug-in on your hard disk.
2. Move or copy the plug-in to the Mac OS X/Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder.

| If you install a plug-in, Microsoft Internet Explorer automatically updates the file helpers that the plug-in can use. If applicable, Internet Explorer also creates a new file helper for the plug-in.

Related topics

Enabling or disabling plug-ins

Assigning a helper application to a file type