ActiveX controls are disabled by default in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise:
About:
This document explains how to enable ActiveX in Microsoft 365. In Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, ActiveX controls are now disabled by default. When ActiveX is disabled, users cannot create new ActiveX objects or interact with existing ones. This change affects Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
Never enable ActiveX on files you aren't sure are safe!
Enabling ActiveX controls is not recommended due to security concerns.
Changing ActiveX settings will apply to all files in Office applications: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio – not just the file in which you make the change.
What is ActiveX?
ActiveX controls are small programs embedded in Microsoft Office files that add interactive features like buttons or automation. Because they can run code on your computer, they can pose security risks if used in untrusted files. For this reason, ActiveX is disabled by default and should only be enabled for files from trusted sources.
ActiveX is a Windows-only technology and is supported only in Microsoft Office for Windows. Microsoft Office for macOS does not support ActiveX controls at all, even if they are enabled on a Windows computer.
How to:
1, Open any Microsoft Office application. Select File, then Options.
2, Look at the top-left corner of the window. Click File. In the menu that appears on the left, scroll down and click Options.
👉 A new window called Options will open.
3, In the Options window, look at the left-hand menu. Click Trust Center. On the right side, click the button labeled Trust Center Settings…
👉 Another window will open.
4, In the Trust Center window, look at the left-hand menu. Click ActiveX Settings. Select the option “Prompt me before enabling all controls with minimal restrictions”.
👉 This means Office will ask you first before running ActiveX controls instead of blocking them completely.
5, Click OK to close the Trust Center window. Click OK again to close the Options window.
👉 You are now back in your document.
- When you open a file that contains ActiveX controls, Office will show a security warning.
- You can then choose whether to enable or disable ActiveX for that file.
And you are done 😄