Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Local Machine Zone User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Local Machine Zone Description
This policy setting manages whether users will be automatically prompted for ActiveX control installations. If you enable this policy setting, users will receive a prompt when a site instantiates an ActiveX control they do not have installed. If you disable this policy setting, ActiveX control installations will be blocked using the Notification bar. Users can click on the Notification bar to allow the ActiveX control prompt. If you do not configure this policy setting, users will receive a prompt when a site instantiates an ActiveX control they do not have installed.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0 HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0 MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/LocalMachineZoneAllowAutomaticPromptingForActiveXControls User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/LocalMachineZoneAllowAutomaticPromptingForActiveXControls Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0]
"2201"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '2201' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/LocalMachineZoneAllowAutomaticPromptingForActiveXControls
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="IZ_Partname2201" value="0"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0' -Name '2201' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '2201' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0' -Name '2201' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '2201' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.