ActiveX is a COM/OLE-based component model that provided binary controls for Windows apps and Internet Explorer. Because ActiveX controls run native code and require registry registration, they posed security risks. Major browsers dropped ActiveX support and Internet Explorer reached end-of-life in 2022; ActiveX remains only for legacy intranet or specialized applications. Administrators should require signed controls, limit scope, and migrate to modern web or native alternatives.

What ActiveX controls are

ActiveX grew out of Microsoft's OLE and COM technologies. An ActiveX control is a COM-based binary component (often an .ocx or DLL) that exposes COM interfaces such as IUnknown and typically IDispatch so other programs and scripting hosts can use it. ActiveX is not a programming language; developers implemented controls in languages that produce COM binaries - historically Visual Basic 6, C/C++, Delphi and, later, .NET via COM interop.

How ActiveX worked in browsers and Windows

ActiveX controls could be embedded in web pages and run inside Internet Explorer, or hosted inside native Windows apps that load COM components. Installing a control required COM registration (for example, using regsvr32) so the registry could map a CLSID to the DLL/OCX that implements it. Microsoft also provided mechanisms for distribution and identification, including Authenticode code signing for publisher authentication.

Why ActiveX raised security concerns

Unlike Java applets, which ran in a sandboxed JVM, ActiveX controls are native Windows binaries with the same privileges as the host process. That capability allowed powerful functionality (file and system access) but also made unsigned or malicious controls able to damage systems or data. Over the 2000s, these security concerns - along with the move to cross-platform web standards - drove browsers and organizations to restrict or stop using ActiveX.

Current status (as of 2025)

ActiveX is a legacy technology. Internet Explorer reached end-of-life for most Windows versions in 2022, and modern browsers (Chrome, Edge Chromium, Firefox) no longer support ActiveX. Microsoft Edge offers an "IE mode" in enterprise environments to allow legacy intranet sites to run ActiveX when absolutely necessary. ActiveX still exists in older internal tools and specialized industrial or government apps, but new development favors web standards (HTML5, JavaScript/TypeScript, WebAssembly) or native applications.

Examples and migration paths

Some shell-related COM/ActiveX components (for example, controls that exposed folder views or Shell functionality) allowed web pages or apps to interact with the file system and UI elements . For modern replacements, teams usually rewrite UI or integration code as web apps, browser extensions, or native services that use secure APIs and least-privilege principles.

Practical notes for administrators

If you must support legacy ActiveX: restrict it to trusted intranet sites, require digitally signed controls, run them in controlled accounts, and maintain up-to-date host OS patches. For long-term risk reduction, plan migration away from ActiveX and toward supported, sandboxed technologies.
  1. Confirm exact name and behaviors of the Shell 'FolderView' ActiveX control referenced historically and whether it matches the described functionality.

FAQs about Activex Control

Can modern browsers run ActiveX controls?
No. Major modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge Chromium) do not support ActiveX. Microsoft Edge can run legacy ActiveX only in its IE mode for enterprise compatibility.
How did ActiveX controls get installed on Windows?
ActiveX controls are COM binaries (DLLs/OCXs) that must be registered in the Windows registry (for example, with regsvr32) so the system can locate and instantiate them.
Are ActiveX controls safe to use today?
ActiveX controls can be safe if tightly controlled: only allow signed, trusted controls; restrict them to intranet sites; and run them with least privilege. However, they remain higher risk than sandboxed modern alternatives.
What replaces ActiveX for new development?
Common replacements include HTML5 web applications, JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks, WebAssembly for native-speed code in the browser, browser extensions, or native services that expose secure APIs.

News about Activex Control

Office 365: Microsoft will deactivate ActiveX by default - BornCity [Visit Site | Read More]

Microsoft blocks ActiveX by default in Microsoft 365, Office 2024 - BleepingComputer [Visit Site | Read More]

ActiveX blocked by default in Microsoft 365 because remote code execution is bad, OK? - theregister.com [Visit Site | Read More]

Microsoft 365 Will Turn Off ActiveX, Because Hackers Keep Using It - How-To Geek [Visit Site | Read More]

Microsoft Disables ActiveX by Default in 365 to Block Malware Execution by Hackers - CyberSecurityNews [Visit Site | Read More]

ActiveX is now being blocked by default in Microsoft 365 - TechRadar [Visit Site | Read More]

Fix: Internet Explorer Blocked Website from Installing ActiveX - Windows Report [Visit Site | Read More]

Having Fun with ActiveX Controls in Microsoft Word - Black Hills Information Security, Inc. [Visit Site | Read More]