- Oct 8, 2025
Excel and ActiveX Controls
- Neale Blackwood
- Tips & Shortcuts
- 0 comments
Microsoft has recently turned off ActiveX controls as default. If you have used them in the past and still want to use them you will need to turn them back on.
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Reading time: 1 min read
To turn them back on.
Excel Options (File ribbon tab) click Trust Center Settings.
In the ActiveX section – image below – there are options to turn on ActiveX.
Developer tab
Currently on the Developer tab the Insert icon form control only has the standard Form Controls – see below.
If you change the ActiveX settings and close and re-open Excel the ActiveX Control options will re-appear.
I have avoided using ActiveX controls for most of my Excel life. ActiveX controls have more options but also have a reputation of having a lot more issues.