One of the best upgrades from the newer BlackBerry OSs has been the much improved Internet browser. Back when I had my 8830, with its scroll-only trackball function, surfing was okay, but not a remarkable experience. Then I upgraded to the Curve and realized the power of the cursor. Combined with better support for Javascript, the BlackBerry browsing experience went from “OK” to “pretty freakin’ good.” However, there are still issues that can slow down your experience. Here are a few tips to speed up your Internet browser.
To start, launch your BlackBerry Browser. Hit the Menu key, then scroll to and select Options, and then Browser Configuration. That will bring us to the all-important screen.
Turn off Javascript
Javascript can cause agonizing lag in your browser. I’ve had this happen plenty of times, and it has, on my 8830, has caused the hourglass to pop up every 3 seconds. Thankfully, I was able to solve this problem the way you can solve any BlackBerry problem. It’s still a pain, though.
Turning off Javascript is an easy solution. Your Browser Configuration settings make this even easier, as you can choose to have it prompt you when scripts want to run. This way, you can be picky about when to slow down your browser.
Turn off HTML tables
HTML tables are no fun. Thankfully, with upgrades to Internet Explorer 8, they’re going out of style. While they eventually might be phased out, they still exist today. Turning off this feature can speed up your browser experience. If you need table support, you can just go back into your Browser Configuration options.
Turn off background images
This is a self-explanatory one. Loading fewer images means less data, which means faster load times. You can always click them back on if need be.
Keep Emulation set at BlackBerry
The newer iterations of the BlackBerry Browser allow you to view Web pages as they would appear on the desktop. Once you set your Emulation Mode to Microsoft IE, you can do this. However, it does cause for some big files. This can severely slow your load time. I tried to load a few Web pages like this, and the more data-intensive ones took for-ever.
It’s a neat feature, IE mode, and I recommend you play around with it. However, if you’re going for pure speed, just stick to the BlackBerry default. Things will move a bit smoother.
57 comments… read them below or add one
awesome post ,,,,, Im making all my changes now … this is what I needed
I am having difficulty accessing baa glasgow on my blackberrry 8310. This has been a problem for about 3 weeks. Prior to this I had no problems. when attempting to go to this site it displays running script/requesting script at the bottom of the screen. Blackberry and vodafone have not managed to resovle this problem even after replacing my handset and sim. When following your instructions, I cannot complete the emulation mode as I have openwave gateway as my only option.
Please help
JIM
Great Post, Thanks a lot.
this helped a lot but I am wondering how I can make the video screen bigger. I tried to watch some youtube videos on my phone and the screen ends up really small. I’ve been looking everywhere to try and make the videos full screen. do you have any tips?
I could not find HTML tables to turn off as recommended.
Is there any javascript for BB 8900?
Thanx for the tips! You made my web much faster and easier!
Ur the man!!! My browser works very fast now…please post more tips…thank you
wow. these really worked. my sister just got the 9700 blackberry bold, and i got the blackberry curve 8520 last week. when i saw how fast her internet was i was so jealous. this worked great! thanks :)
Works like the bomb thanks a stack
Thank u so much!!!
Prolem with you little fix is that website I visited – “This link rquires Javascript to be Enabled” your fix is a bandaid on a compound fracture – You are lucky bbry is so entrenched into the enterprise – I would switch 3 months ago to Driod bc the OS and Web is instant-
These tips were awesome! I’ve seen a remarkable difference in loading and operation. Thank you.
@Ansa You are very welcome. Thanks for being a BBGeek!
it’s work dude…
When I click on options and BROWSER CONFIGURATION, I do not have the same options that you do. I have checkboxes for:
Support JavaScript
Prompt to enable JavaScript
Show Images
Use Background Images
Support Embedded Media.
Then the things I can change are:
Broswer Identifications (my only options are “Blackberry, Firefox and Internet Explorer.”
Start Page: (options are “Bookmarks Page, Home Page, Last Page Loaded and Start Page”)
Default Search Provider: (yahoo, google, wikipedia and dictionary.com being the options)
Home Page Address: (and you type in the http of the page you want.
My problem is that I don’t have the ability to set my emulation mode to IE and this is the rub. If I can do that then I can access a page that I need.
I have a curve 8520 through T-Mobile.
Any ideas on how to change this? Thanks!
@Jamie You state that you can change your browser ID to Internet Explorer
“Broswer Identifications (my only options are “Blackberry, Firefox and Internet Explorer.””
That is the setting you are looking for – switch the ID to IE and you are now emulating IE when browsing (or as close as the BlackBerry browser will allow)
Why does my blackberry. Curve 8520 restart itself please help
Please please I just need to know if this normal my blackberry 8500 restarted itself it was only 6 days old is it ok and what could the reason be?
HI,
i am getting a error saying when i try to access my phone book it says “Uncaught exception: application net_rim_bb_addressbook_app(514) is not responding”
Thanks
@yb you have a corrupted entry in your database of contacts. This sometimes happens if special characters are used in their details or if the contact is blank.
First try doing a battery pull to see if the error clears itself up.
If not, I would connect to desktop manager – backup your device then clear the Address Book database on the device.
1. Open BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
2. Click Backup and Restore, and selectAdvanced.
3. From the Handheld Databases list, selectAddress Book.
4. Click Clear. Go back to the BlackBerry Desktop Manager window.
5. Synchronize
hi! im using Curve 8520 the browser keep on loading it does not move. it is defaulted to internet browser please help. thank you
hi..can u help me with the configuration settings of my curve 8320?i cant connect to the internet.the only browser i have is a hotspot browser.maybe u can give me the manual configuration settings..please help..thanks.
@ivy Do you have a BlackBerry data plan on your account (also known as BIS)?
If no then your browser will only work over wifi using the hotspot browser.
Double check with your provider to see what services you currently have.
This was helpful – thx!
Browsing on my blackberry curve 8320 T-Mobile is very slow and I couldn’t download any application on my phone… It try to download but later fail… Pls I need help asap. Thanks
u guys r COOL all these tips work a treat, thanks a lot bbgeeks. :)
I’ve got an a Bb 8830 dat I’d lyk to configure. Please can som1 helpme out wit da Manual Configuration Settings. D Bb iz World Edition Sprint Model precisely.
thanks this helped lots
Thank you it did boost up my blackberry. It works.
Works like a charm phone is quick thanks man :) people please follow the steps carefully and read the instructions good thank you
Pls, i need b/berry 8310 phone setting because i can’t use my bb phone to download and upload on facebook.
Thank’s
Owned a Blackberry 8520 curve, but he does not have firefox a browser
Guys m using m using bb curve 8520.with airtel india server..my browsing speed n downloading speed is vry slow..1 song takes about 40 mins to download..at speed of 1 kbps..plz help me out guys..
hello i hop us can halpe me im on bb curve 8520 n i just can’t get my wifi working what should i do i had tried every thing :( .
My bb tour suddenly became slow and downloading takes a long time now(so long). Plz I need help 30DEAE2A
my facebook is taking ages to load up on my 8520 how do i speed this up .my facebook shows up but takes ages for images to load up etc can u help me
Hi i cant acces app world because i cant connect to the app world server. PLEASE HELP
All i can say is faaaaaaaast!
Omg THANNNK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU. but facebook is still slow
if any body is getting less speed while downloading n browsing .the very first thing is to check the browser setting .. 2nd deleting cache and cookies ..3rd deleting n resending the servicebook ..after xcersing this above step if its not getting than have backup of the data’s n formate/wipe the handset ,,
Plz I need help wth my bb 9300 3G,I want to knw hw I can chnge my signal thing its never on 3G its always on EDGE nd its slow on the wap…plz any1 who can help…?plz e-mail it 2 me
i am using BB 9300 and my internet speed is very slow. can any1 help me
I have a BlackBerry 9300 and when I try downloading it takes forever! A 5 minute video tends to download for over an hour and more! My 3G sign and stuff are always there when I try to download. A service provider once told me to go device > advanced system settings > Host Routing Table and register on the hightlighted key, but nothing has happened ever since.. I even reboot my pgone frequently to see if it would do any good and it hasn’t. Could you guys please help?
i’ve blackberry curve it works with its own broweser but doesnt with other third party software like opera .
I cannot download avi format movies on my blackberry 8520
The fast browser it worked thanx and may you have many blessings
My bberry curve 8520 and the internet is very slow and I can not use my bb application It said I must update my blackberry Id but it always fail to connect to the bberry server get always a error 80003. Please help
I have a BlackBerry 9300 and when I try downloading it takes forever! A 5 minute video tends to download for over an hour and more! My 3G sign and stuff are always there when I try to download. A service provider once told me to go device > advanced system settings > Host Routing Table and register on the hightlighted key, but nothing has happened ever since.. I even reboot my phone frequently to see if it would do any good and it hasn’t. Could you guys please help?
Is it possible to use MTN or any other network blackberry settings to browse the internet using a modem? If possible, can you send me the settings for the modem? I use MTN modem which I have unlocked.
BB internet connection and setting are useless, Its good only for corporates but not for public,
I am connect my Nokia C3 to PC for internet connection and gets speeds upto 412KBPS were as BB gives only 112KB on the same sim.
also the connections / setting are so complex its makes useless.
Best go for NOKIA phones
Please anyone help!!! I have got a BB 9300 for two weeks. First it was nice and then the internet and downloading when horrible slow. I have cleaned the history and everything. Even did a backup and restore with bb desktop and nothing helps. I need my bb and internet for work. Please help!!!
My blackberry curve 9300 takes about a hour if I try to download a simple 5 minute song… If I try to download anything bigger it tends to fail and it happens even if I have 3G… Please help this phone is starting to irritate me… Thanks for any help
Hey, I have a bberry 9860, and wanted to know if there should be a “H” for hsdpa where the 3G symbol always is if it gets better connectivity?
blackberry 9800 used to have normal speeds . reloaded the os with a new one bt still im getting download speeds of b/s which is so slow
hi ths is mujtaba
i have blackberry mobli 8520 my blackberry is very slow wht i have to do
regards
mujtaba
I have a black berry 8520 .its internet speed is very slow and it don’t support other apps like Facebook e.t.c