Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Add-on Management User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Add-on Management Description
This policy setting determines whether Internet Explorer saves log information for ActiveX controls. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer logs ActiveX control information (including the source URI that loaded the control and whether it was blocked) to a local file. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, Internet Explorer won't log ActiveX control information. Note that you can turn this policy setting on or off regardless of the "Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for Internet Explorer" or "Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for Internet Explorer on specific domains" policy settings. For more information, see "Outdated ActiveX Controls" in the Internet Explorer TechNet library.
Registry
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext Value name: AuditModeEnabled
Enabled: AuditModeEnabled = 1
Disabled: AuditModeEnabled = 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: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext]
"AuditModeEnabled"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AuditModeEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext' -Name 'AuditModeEnabled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AuditModeEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
# 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: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext' -Name 'AuditModeEnabled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on ActiveX control logging in Internet Explorer
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AuditModeEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.