Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for Internet Explorer
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 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 blocks specific outdated ActiveX controls. Outdated ActiveX controls are never blocked in the Intranet Zone. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer stops blocking outdated ActiveX controls. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, Internet Explorer continues to block specific outdated ActiveX controls. For more information, see "Outdated ActiveX Controls" in the Internet Explorer TechNet library.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext HKCU
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext Value name: VersionCheckEnabled
Enabled: VersionCheckEnabled = 0
Disabled: VersionCheckEnabled = 1
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DoNotBlockOutdatedActiveXControls User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DoNotBlockOutdatedActiveXControls 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: Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for Internet Explorer
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 8.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext]
"VersionCheckEnabled"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for 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 'VersionCheckEnabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DoNotBlockOutdatedActiveXControls
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext' -Name 'VersionCheckEnabled' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for 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 'VersionCheckEnabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for 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 off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Ext' -Name 'VersionCheckEnabled' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off blocking of outdated ActiveX controls for 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 'VersionCheckEnabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.