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AOL Explorer
Developer	AOL LLC
Release	July 2005 (2005-07)
Final release	1.5[1]  / May 2006
Preview release	none (n/a) [±]
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Successor	AOL Desktop
Type	Web browser
License	Freeware
Website	downloads.channel.aol.com/browser

AOL Explorer, previously known as AOL Browser, was a graphical web browser developed by AOL. It was released in July 2005 as a free, standalone download, or as an optional software bundled while installing AOL Instant Messenger.^[2] AOL Explorer supported tabbed browsing and used Microsoft's Trident browser engine.^[3] The browser was briefly succeeded by AOL OpenRide in 2006, followed by AOL Desktop in 2007.

In 2003, AOL was given rights to Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser in a seven-year contract.^[4] As such, AOL Explorer shared similarities with Microsoft's flagship browser, notably the ability to access Windows updates, and install Internet Explorer-compatible plugins.^[5] Security features such as a pop-up blocker and spyware detection were built into the browser.^[5]

Version 1.5 was launched in May 2006, adding Desktop Widgets, Visual Themes, a Feeds Screensaver and various performance improvements. Desktop Widgets allowed the user to "tear off" a side panel and use it independently from the browser. RSS Feeds could be shown in a screensaver, and Show Page Preview allowed users to see previews of web page links without leaving the page.^[6]

AOL Explorer was praised by PC Magazine for its wealth of features and its visual design.^[5] Some criticisms were that the browser had "questionable anti-spyware tools", and that it did not support third-party toolbars.^[5]

• List of web browsers
• Comparison of web browsers
• List of feed aggregators
• Comparison of feed aggregators

• Download AOL Explorer – AOL Downloads at the Wayback Machine (archived 2007-02-09)