ActiveX controls from websites and online services in web browser may be required to run specific functionality, for example using web based email like Yahoo Mail. However, due to security concerns associated with ActiveX controls – various web browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox do not support ActiveX controls by default. Still, there are ways and workarounds to enable ActiveX control in your favorite web browser.
Enable ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer
By default, Internet Explorer web browser support ActiveX control. You need to make sure, the ActiveX control option is enabled in IE on your computer.
1. Open Internet Explorer web browser, click on Tools icon and then click Internet Options. This will open Internet Options box, here click on Security tab at the top.
2. Then click on Custom Level button to open “Security Settings – Internet Zone” box. Now scroll down to the middle of the list and look for “Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins” option.
Click to highlight ‘Enable’ option next to “Run ActiveX Controls and Plugins” and “Script ActiveX Controls Marked Safe for Scripting“.
3. Click OK to save settings and close opened box. Close Internet Explorer, new settings to enable ActiveX will be active next time you open Internet Explorer web browser.
Enable ActiveX controls in Google Chrome & Firefox
By default, Google Chrome and Firefox web browsers do not support ActiveX controls. However, there are workarounds to enable ActiveX controls and get the required functionality based on ActiveX controls.
Google Chrome users can download IE Tab extension that acts as Internet Explorer emulator. It helps enable ActiveX controls in Google Chrome as it emulates IE by using the IE rendering engine directly within Chrome.
Firefox users can install ff-activex-host plugin to enable ActiveX controls in the browser. This plugin makes it possible to use (host) ActiveX controls in Firefox and provides full access to the hosted control (events, functions, properties). Besides Firefox, you can also use it in Google Chrome browser for similar functionality. Also, if you are looking for a way to manage ActiveX components on Windows, then checkout ActiveX helper utility to view, enable and disable ActiveX components easily.
