Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
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\Restricted Sites Zone User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Restricted Sites Zone Description
This policy setting allows you to manage ActiveX controls not marked as safe. If you enable this policy setting, ActiveX controls are run, loaded with parameters, and scripted without setting object safety for untrusted data or scripts. This setting is not recommended, except for secure and administered zones. This setting causes both unsafe and safe controls to be initialized and scripted, ignoring the Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting option. If you enable this policy setting and select Prompt in the drop-down box, users are queried whether to allow the control to be loaded with parameters or scripted. If you disable this policy setting, ActiveX controls that cannot be made safe are not loaded with parameters or scripted. If you do not configure this policy setting, ActiveX controls that cannot be made safe are not loaded with parameters or scripted.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4 HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4 MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/RestrictedSitesZoneInitializeAndScriptActiveXControls User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/RestrictedSitesZoneInitializeAndScriptActiveXControls 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: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
; 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\4]
"1201"=dword:00000003More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
# 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\4'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '1201' -Value 3 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/RestrictedSitesZoneInitializeAndScriptActiveXControls
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="IZ_Partname1201" value="3"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4' -Name '1201' -Expected 3 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
# 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\4'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '1201' -Value 3 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
# 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: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4' -Name '1201' -Expected 3 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
# 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\4'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '1201' -Value 3 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.