How to Delete Internet Explorer ActiveX Controls
If you’re experiencing issues with Internet Explorer, chances are it could be due to outdated ActiveX controls. ActiveX controls are software components that enable you to control different aspects of websites and applications, but they can also pose certain security risks to your system and the web browser, which is why it’s essential to delete old or unused ActiveX controls.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to delete Internet Explorer ActiveX controls.
Step 1: Open the Run dialog box
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Alternatively, you can locate the Run tool by clicking on the Start menu and typing ‘Run’ in the search box.
Step 2: Type Regedit command
In the Run dialog box, type ‘regedit’ and press Enter. This will launch the Registry Editor tool.
Step 3: Locate the ActiveX controls folder
In the Registry Editor, navigate to ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility.’ Here, you’ll find a list of ActiveX controls installed on your system.
Step 4: Choose the ActiveX control to delete
Select the ActiveX control folder you wish to delete. You can identify each folder by its CLSID number.
Step 5: Delete the ActiveX control
Right-click on the ActiveX control folder and select ‘Delete.’ When a pop-up notification asks for confirmation, click ‘Yes’ to complete the deletion process.
Step 6: Repeat the process
Repeat the above steps for all other ActiveX controls you wish to delete.
Step 7: Close the registry editor
Once you have deleted all the unnecessary ActiveX controls, close the Registry Editor by clicking on the ‘X’ icon on the top right corner of the window.
In conclusion, removing unwanted ActiveX controls from Internet Explorer can improve the performance of the web browser and protect your system from potential security threats. However, it’s crucial to be cautious when deleting these controls, as removing the wrong ones can cause issues with your system. Follow the above steps carefully and delete only those ActiveX controls that you are sure of.