Tag: browser

Tech Tip: Browser Security Settings

When you’re using Canvas to access Zoom meetings for online classes and other class materials, you may encounter some issues wherein pop-ups are blocked by your browser security settings. From browser to browser, there are different ways of fixing this issue so that you may access your Zoom meeting for an online class. The blocked Zoom meeting link pop-up is a common issue, especially when a browser is updated.

Firefox: There is a small shield icon on the left of the address bar. Clicking on this shield icon will open up a menu which you can then turn off/on “enhanced tracking protections” which, when turned off, will place a slash mark across the shield icon. In this state, you should be able to open up Zoom links from Canvas.

Alternatively, you may access more advanced security settings in Firefox from the “burger” icon to the far right of the address bar, which consists of three horizontal lines stacked atop each other. From this icon, select “settings” and “privacy & security” to clear cookies (which can often interfere with Canvas and Zoom). You may also change the level of security, lowering as necessary to allow for pop-ups. We recommend raising security again after allowing the pop-up to open and getting into Zoom. It’s a short process to drop and raise the settings and can be done easily with some practice

The shield icon on the left side of the address bar. The settings “burger” on the right

The shield icon on Firefox once Enhanced Tracking Protection has been turned off, allowing for Zoom meeting pop-ups from Canvas.
The drop down menu when the shield icon is clicked. Note the option to turn the Enhanced Tracking Protection on/off with the blue switch.

Chrome: While there is no shield icon to navigate to in Chrome, the “burger” to “settings” to “privacy & security” path is the same. The Chrome “burger” is three vertically placed dots rather than stacked horizontal lines, but otherwise, it’s a nearly identical process to lower and raise the security settings in order to open a pop-up link for a Zoom meeting in Canvas.

The Chrome browser does not have the shield icon, so the setting must be accessed through the dotted “burger” icon on the right side.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact us at the iSchool Help Desk. You can reach us at (217) 244-4903 or (800) 377-1892, ischool-support@illinois.edu, or via chat at https://go.ischool.illinois.edu/TechChat. Our contact info is also on your course Canvas pages.

The desk is usually open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Friday. Hours may vary during finals, breaks, etc.

Tech Tip of the Week: Clearing Cache and Cookies

Clearing cache and cookies is the first troubleshooting option you should try when encountering browser issues, such as slow load times or error messages. By doing this, you can help optimize your computer’s performance and verify if the issue originates in the website or app you are using. The Help Desk has links listed on the Wiki on how to clear the cache on popular web browsers. If you still have have issues after clearing cache and cookies, contact the Help Desk to troubleshoot further!

Tech Tip of the Week: Tips for Navigating Tabs and Windows

These keyboard shortcuts will make navigating and managing your browser tabs a breeze!

To close your current tab–
On Windows: Ctrl + W
On Mac: Command + W

To open a new tab–
On Windows: Ctrl + T
On Mac: Command + T

To move to another tab–
On Windows: Ctrl + Tab to go to the right and Ctrl + Shift + Tab to go to the left
On Mac: Ctrl + Tab to go to the right and Ctrl + Shift + Tab to go to the left

To close your current window–
On Windows: Alt + F4
On Mac: hold Command + Q

To open a new window–
On Windows: Ctrl + N
On Mac: Command + N

To move to another window–
On Windows: Alt + Tab
On Mac: Command + Tab

To Minimize/Maximize your browser–
On Windows: Window Key + Arrowkeys
On Mac: Command + M to Minimize to Dock

To open a recently closed tab or window–
On Windows: Ctrl + Shift + T
On Mac: Command + Shift + T

Tech Tip of The Week: Pinning Tabs in Chrome

In Chrome, you can pin a tab that you use often by right-clicking the tab and selecting “Pin”. This will move the tab to the far left and will show only the icon, which saves space and makes it so that you cannot accidentally close that tab!

You can unpin a tab by right-clicking on it again and selecting “Unpin”.

Pinned tabs will not stay after you close the browser and reappear when you next open Chrome unless you going into your Chrome settings, select “On startup” from the left menu, and select “Continue where you left off”. If you do this, all the tabs you had open when you last closed Chrome will reopen when you open the browser again.

Tech Tip of the Week: Google Chrome Lets You Send Websites Between Devices

Do you use Google Chrome on both your computer and phone or tablet? Did you know you can easily send a website you have open on one device to the others?

When using a computer, you can click on the address bar and this symbol should appear to the right: Self share icon
If you click on this symbol you will be asked to chose which device to share the website with.

When using a phone or tablet you will have to go to the Chrome menu by selecting the three verticle dots in the top right. In this menu, you will see the option to “Share”. Once you select that you should see the ability to “Send to your devices” and will be asked to chose which device to share the website with.

Need more details? Try the Google Support page here.

Tech Tip of The Week: Search Google with a Quick Click

If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari searching Google is just a click away. If you encounter a word you do not know or want to know more about, you can simply highlight the word then right-click on the highlighted word to bring up a menu with the option to “Search Google” for the selected word. This will open a new tab in your browser with the search results for your chosen word!

Tech Tip of The Week: How to Quickly Move Between Tabs

Working on a project and opened way too many tabs to navigate? Finding it difficult to switch between the calendar and inbox in Outlook? This week we have just the quick tip for you!

You can move between tabs in a browser quickly by pressing “Control” if you are using a Windows computer, or “Command” if you are using a Mac computer, and “Tab”.  This shortcut will take you to the next tab to the right.

You can also move directly to a specific tab by pressing Control/Command + [insert tab number here]. The tabs are assigned a number with the tab open on the far left being number 1 and the numbers going up as the tabs open to the right.

This tip can also be used in the Outlook application (not on the website) to switch views. Control/Command + 1 will switch to the Mail view, Control/Command + 2 will switch to the Calendar views.
Replacing the number with 3 will show the Contacts view, 4 the Tasks view, 5 the Notes view, 6 the Folder list, 7 the Shortcuts, and 8 will open the Journal.

Tech Tip of the Week: How to Easily Bring Back a Closed Tab

Have you ever accidentally closed the wrong tab on your browser and then become frustrated when you have to find your way to that tab all over again?

The good news is that there is a shortcut for opening the last tab you closed.

On Windows: Ctrl + Shift + T

On Macs: Cmd + Shift + T

Also if you use Chrome and accidentally close an entire window, these shortcuts will open the window back up with all the tabs that were in use before it was closed.