ActiveX controls are small programs that work on your computer to create various applications through the internet. Programmers use ActiveX in any number of programs including Silverlight, Flash, WMV files and AVI files. Normally these files work correctly in Windows Media Player, and so long as you have your Media player updated, you should always be able to see the latest forms of these files correctly. If you wanted to use the sorts of files in Internet Explorer, however, you may find additional ActiveX controls to be necessary.

You’ll see prompts to update or download ActiveX controls on a wide range of websites as you navigate through the web, and most of these ActiveX controls are correct and necessary to run a particular webpage or program correctly. Always be careful, however, about checking a site to be sure it’s legitimate before agreeing to update the ActiveX controls for a particular page or program as they can be used maliciously.

Finding ActiveX on Internet Explorer

ActiveX is automatically installed with Internet Explorer, so when you are running Internet Explorer, you’re also running ActiveX controls. Each time you need a new ActiveX control for a particular file type, like Flash or WMV files, you’ll be prompted to install the controls from the actual page you’re on.

The message to update or install the ActiveX controls usually appears near the top of your screen when you visit the page. Simply select Install ActiveX Control to begin the download directly from that website.

Uh oh . . . I'm not getting an Automatic Prompt to Install the ActiveX Object

If for some reason, you’re not seeing the prompts when you should or you didn’t install an ActiveX Control when you should have initially, you can make adjustments to your ActiveX controls through Internet Explorer.

Adjusting ActiveX Controls

In Internet Explorer, open the Toolbar and select Internet Options.



In the Internet Options menu box, select Custom level… under the Security level for this zone option.



Scroll down in the Security Settings Box until you see ActiveX controls and plug-ins. Scroll through the options to allow any of the ActiveX controls that you need, including turning on automatic prompting for ActiveX controls by selecting Enable when asked.



This will allow you to simply click and install the controls you need as you discover you need them. As you come across a video or song you’re trying to play, you’ll be prompted to download the ActiveX controls for each.

By enabling the automatic prompting, you may see more download options than you’d like once you get your initial downloads complete. If this is the case, simply return to this menu and reset the option to disable automatic prompting and you’ll see these messages disappear again.