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Configure ActiveX Controls

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Commonly used Microsoft® ActiveX® controls are listed in the Axaa.adm file, which is installed with Windows® Internet Explorer® Administration Kit 8 (IEAK 8) in <systemdrive>:\Program Files\Windows IEAK 8\policies\<processor>\<language>. As an administrator, you should assess which of these controls, if any, are appropriate to use within your organization. You can edit this file directly with a text editor to add any new controls that you want to use. By default, no controls are listed as approved. You can then configure ActiveX controls for each zone by using Internet Options.

To add approved ActiveX controls

  1. Review the ActiveX control settings in the Axaa.adm file. If you want to add custom controls to this list, use a text editor to edit the Axaa.adm file.

    We recommend that you make a backup copy of this file in case you want to restore the original settings.

  2. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.

  3. On the Security tab, click the zone for which you want to manage ActiveX controls, and then click Custom Level.

  4. Scroll to Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins, and then click Administrator approved.

  5. Repeat the last two steps until you have configured all the zones you want.

  6. When you run Internet Explorer Customization Wizard 8 to create a custom package, on the Additional Settings page, click Control Management to expand its contents. Then select the check boxes for the controls you want to approve.

Additional references

For more information about Internet Explorer 8 and ActiveX controls, see ActiveX Security: Improvements and Best Practices (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=68946).