See how to work with ActiveX controls in your files, changing their settings, and how to enable or disable them by using the Message Bar and the Trust Center. You can also learn more about ActiveX controls and how they improve your files.

  1. Disable Activex In Microsoft Edge Windows 10
  2. Disable Activex Microsoft Edge
  3. Activex Settings In Microsoft Edge

IT Pros can learn more about planning ActiveX settings in the Plan security settings for ActiveX controls for Office 2010 TechNet article.

In this article

Edge- How do I turn ActiveX Filtering on or off Is there any way to turn Active X filtering on (or off) in Microsoft Edge? For Internet explorer, it is simple Tools - Safety- check or uncheck Active X filtering; however, I can't find anything like that in Edge.
  • Microsoft has announced the Edge browser, which does not support ActiveX. I have an app that needs to get info from the Windows registry, so I have some questions about alternatives to ActiveX: Is there a way to communicate with a native app (that can read from the Windows registry) from Edge or something similar (like native messaging in Chrome)?
  • I'm trying to understand the support that exists in the Microsoft Edge browser for ActiveX. I have read on numerous sources (by googling the phrase 'activex edge') that this is not supported.

Enable ActiveX controls when the Message Bar appears

When you open a file that has ActiveX controls, the yellow Message Bar appears with a shield icon and the Enable Content button. If you know the controls are from a reliable source, use the following instructions:

  • On the Message Bar, click Enable Content.
    The file opens and is a trusted document.

The following image is an example of the Message Bar when ActiveX controls are in the file.

Enable ActiveX controls in the Backstage view

Another method to enable ActiveX controls in a file is via the Microsoft Office Backstage view, the view that appears after you click the File tab, when the yellow Message Bar appears.

  1. Click the File tab.
  2. In the Security Warning area, click Enable Content.
  3. Under Enable All Content, click Always enable this document's active content.
    The file becomes a trusted document.

The following image is an example of Always enable this document's active content and Advanced Options.

Disable Activex In Microsoft Edge

The following image is a larger example of the Enable Content options.

Note: The one exception is an ActiveX control with the kill-bit set. In this state, the ActiveX control does not run. A kill bit is security feature that instructs an ActiveX control to never use a piece of ActiveX software, for instance by closing a security vulnerability, by or preventing code from running.

Enable ActiveX controls for one time when the Security Warning appears

Use the following instructions to enable controls for the duration of time that the file is open. When you close the file, and then reopen it, the warning appears again.

  1. Click the File tab.
  2. In the Security Warning area, click Enable Content.
  3. Select Advanced Options.
  4. In the Microsoft Office Security Options dialog box, select Enable content for this session for each ActiveX control.

The following image is an example of the Security Warning area when ActiveX controls can be enabled for the duration of time that the file is open.

Notes:
Microsoft

Change ActiveX-control settings in Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Visio

Use the following instructions to enable or disable ActiveX controls in the Trust Center.

  1. Click File > Options.
  2. Click Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > ActiveX Settings.
  3. Click the options you want, and then click OK.

The following is an example of the ActiveX Settings area of the Trust Center.

Important: If you change an ActiveX setting in Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, or Visio, the settings are changed in all those programs.

ActiveX-control settings explained

The following explanations apply to ActiveX controls in files that are not in a trusted location or trusted documents.

Important: If you trust a file and do not want to receive security warnings about content containing ActiveX controls, or other active content, put the file in a trusted location.

Disable Activex In Microsoft Edge Windows 10

What is an ActiveX control and what are the risks?

ActiveX controls are small building blocks that create applications that work over the Internet through Web browsers. Examples include customized applications for collecting data, viewing certain kinds of files, and displaying animation. Common uses of ActiveX controls are command buttons, list boxes, and dialog boxes. Office programs also let you use ActiveX controls to improve some documents.

Disable Activex Microsoft Edge

Risk and potential damage

Activex Settings In Microsoft Edge

ActiveX controls can have unrestricted access to your computer and therefore can access your local file system and change your operating system registry settings. If a hacker uses an ActiveX control to take over your computer, the damage can be significant.