What Is ActiveX Control?

An ActiveX control is a small software component used to add interactive features to applications and web pages, particularly within the Windows environment.

What Is ActiveX Control?

An ActiveX control is a reusable software component developed by Microsoft that enables applications to perform specific functions or display certain types of content beyond their native capabilities. It operates within the Component Object Model (COM) architecture, allowing it to interact seamlessly with other software components in the Windows environment.

ActiveX controls are typically embedded in software applications or web pages to provide enhanced features such as multimedia playback, data visualization, file manipulation, or user interface elements. They are compiled as dynamic link libraries (DLLs) and can be invoked by host applications to extend their functionality without requiring additional coding from the end user.

Although ActiveX was once widely adopted, particularly for web applications in Internet Explorer, its use has significantly declined due to security vulnerabilities and the shift toward more secure, cross-platform technologies like HTML5, JavaScript, and modern APIs.

Is ActiveX Still Used?

ActiveX is largely considered obsolete today and is rarely used in modern software development. While some legacy enterprise applications, particularly in highly regulated industries or within internal corporate environments, may still rely on ActiveX controls for specific functionalities, mainstream support has declined significantly.

Microsoft has deprecated ActiveX in its newer browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, and encourages developers to transition to more secure, platform-independent technologies like HTML5, JavaScript, and modern APIs. As a result, ActiveX is now mostly associated with maintaining older systems rather than building new solutions.

How Does ActiveX Control Work?

An ActiveX control works by leveraging Microsoft’s COM to enable software components to communicate and integrate within the Windows environment. When an application or a web page includes an ActiveX control, the control is typically installed on the user’s system as a dynamic link library (DLL) file. Once installed, the control registers itself with the Windows operating system, making its functionalities available to any compatible host application.

When the host application, such as a web browser or a desktop program, encounters the ActiveX control, it initiates a call to the control’s exposed interfaces. These interfaces define the functions and properties the control offers. Through COM, the host can manipulate the control’s behavior, pass data to it, and receive output. For example, an ActiveX control might render a chart, display a video, or facilitate interaction with hardware like scanners or printers.

The control operates within the security and permissions framework of the host environment. However, because ActiveX controls have deep access to system resources, they have historically posed security risks if improperly validated or maliciously exploited. This has contributed to their decline in favor of safer, sandboxed technologies.

What Is ActiveX Control Used For?

ActiveX controls are used to extend the functionality of software applications and web pages by enabling interactive features that go beyond standard capabilities. They have been commonly applied in scenarios where integration with system resources or advanced user interfaces was required. Typical uses include displaying multimedia content like videos and animations, rendering complex data visualizations such as charts and graphs, enabling file operations like uploads and downloads, facilitating communication with hardware devices such as scanners and printers, and embedding custom controls like calendars or spreadsheets into software or web environments.

In web development, ActiveX controls were often used to enhance browser-based applications with features that standard HTML and JavaScript could not provide at the time. However, due to security concerns and the evolution of more secure, platform-independent technologies, the use of ActiveX controls has sharply declined and is now mostly confined to maintaining legacy systems in corporate environments.

ActiveX Control Example

Here’s a table with a few common examples of ActiveX controls and their typical use cases:

How to Activate ActiveX Controls?

To activate ActiveX controls, users typically need to adjust settings in applications that support them, most commonly Internet Explorer or Microsoft Office. Here’s how it generally works:

In Internet Explorer (legacy browsers):

1. Open Internet options:
   • Go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
2. Adjust security settings:
   • Navigate to the Security tab.
   • Select the Trusted Sites zone (or the zone relevant to the site you’re using).
   • Click Custom level….
3. Enable ActiveX Controls:
   • Scroll down to the ActiveX controls and plug-ins section.
   • Enable the relevant options, such as:
     • Allow ActiveX Filtering.
     • Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt.
     • Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins.
     • Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting.
4. Confirm and apply:
   • Click OK to save the settings.
   • Restart Internet Explorer if necessary.

In Microsoft Office (e.g., Excel, Word, Access):

1. Open Trust Center:
   • Go to File > Options.
   • Select Trust Center from the sidebar.
   • Click on Trust Center Settings….
2. Enable ActiveX settings:
   • Go to the ActiveX Settings section.
   • Choose the desired level of control:
     • Enable all controls without restriction (not recommended for security reasons).
     • Prompt before enabling.
     • Disable all without notification.
3. Apply and restart:
   • Confirm the changes and restart the application if needed.

What Are the Benefits and the Challenges of Using ActiveX Controls?

While ActiveX can enhance applications with advanced features and deep system integration, it also introduces security risks and compatibility issues that limit its relevance in modern environments. Understanding these factors is key to deciding when, or if, ActiveX controls are an appropriate solution.

Benefits of Using ActiveX Controls

ActiveX controls were designed to enhance the functionality of applications, particularly within the Windows ecosystem. They offer several advantages that made them popular in legacy systems and specialized environments:

• Enhanced functionality. ActiveX controls allow developers to easily add complex features such as multimedia playback, data visualization, and interactive forms without building these components from scratch.
• System integration. Because ActiveX controls are built on Microsoft’s Component Object Model, they integrate deeply with Windows and other Microsoft technologies, allowing applications to access hardware and system resources efficiently.
• Reusability. Once developed, ActiveX controls can be reused across multiple applications, reducing development time and effort for adding standardized features.
• Customizability. ActiveX controls can be tailored to specific business needs, offering developers flexibility to design specialized components for internal applications.
• Rich user interface elements. They enable the creation of sophisticated, interactive user interfaces that enhance user experience, such as calendars, charts, or hierarchical views.

Challenges of Using ActiveX Controls

While ActiveX controls were once widely used to extend application functionality, they present several challenges that have contributed to their decline. These challenges affect security, compatibility, and long-term maintainability:

• Security risks. ActiveX controls run with high-level access to the Windows operating system, which makes them a common target for malware and exploitation. Poorly written or malicious controls compromise system security, leading to data breaches, system instability, or unauthorized access.
• Browser and platform dependency. ActiveX controls are tightly integrated with Internet Explorer and the Windows operating system. They do not work on other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or modern versions of Edge, nor do they support non-Windows platforms such as macOS or Linux. This severely limits their usability in today's cross-platform environments.
• Compatibility with modern technologies. Modern web standards such as HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript offer safer, more flexible, and platform-independent alternatives to ActiveX. As these technologies have become standard, ActiveX controls have become increasingly outdated and unsupported.
• Maintenance and support decline. Microsoft and other vendors have phased out support for ActiveX in favor of more secure frameworks. Maintaining legacy applications that rely on ActiveX often requires keeping outdated systems and browsers, increasing technical debt and operational risk.
• User experience barriers. Because ActiveX controls often require manual installation or user permission to run, they can create friction and confusion for end users. Security prompts and additional configuration steps reduce usability and increase the likelihood of user error or frustration.

Are ActiveX Controls Safe?

ActiveX controls are generally not considered safe by modern security standards. While they were designed to enhance functionality within Windows applications and browsers, their architecture allows them deep access to the operating system, including file systems, registry settings, and other sensitive resources. This level of access makes them a frequent target for attackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities.

Over the years, many security incidents have been linked to poorly secured or malicious ActiveX controls. Because they run with the same permissions as the user, a compromised control can install malware, steal data, or disrupt system operations.

Microsoft has introduced measures like kill bits, digital signing requirements, and tighter security settings to reduce risks. However, the inherent design of ActiveX remains insecure by today’s standards, which is why modern browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Firefox no longer support it. Organizations that still use ActiveX typically do so in tightly controlled, legacy environments where additional security precautions are in place.