Windows 7: Internet Explorer "ActiveX Filtering" - Turn On or Off

   Information

ActiveX is a technology that allows web developers to create interactive content on their sites, but it can also pose a security risk. As you browse the Web, you may encounter webpages that don't work properly unless you install an ActiveX control. ActiveX controls are powerful browser plugins that enable many rich web experiences. However, many of these controls are written by 3rd parties and Microsoft cannot guarantee their quality or safety.

Internet Explorer 9 allows you to use ActiveX Filtering to block ActiveX controls for all sites to browse the Web without running any ActiveX controls, and then be able to turn them back on for only the sites that you trust.

This tutorial will show you how to turn ActiveX Filtering on or off in IE9 and IE10.

For more information about ActiveX Filtering, see: ActiveX Filtering

1. In IE9 or IE10, click/tap on Tools on the Menu bar. (see screenshot below)

A) Go to step 3.

OR

2. In IE9 or IE10, click/tap on the gear icon at the top right, and click/tap on Safety. (see screenshot below)

3. To Turn Off Active X Filtering in IE9
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on ActiveX Filtering to uncheck it, then refresh (F5) IE9 or IE10 to apply. (see screenshots above)

4. To Turn On Active X Filtering in IE9

A) Click/tap on ActiveX Filtering to check it, then refresh (F5) IE9 or IE10 to apply. (see screenshots above)

   Note

If you visit a webpage that contains ActiveX content you want to view, you can simply turn off filtering for that website. Click/tap on the icon to display the fly-out window.

From here you can choose to turn off ActiveX Filtering for this website. Once you take action, IE9 or IE10 refreshes the page to ensure that all ActiveX content on the webpage runs. Now that you've turned off ActiveX Filtering for the webpage, the icon on the address bar changes state accordingly.

After you've finished viewing the content, you can click/tap on the icon and turn filtering back on if you'd like, or you can leave filtering off for this website.