For security reasons, Microsoft will disable ActiveX by default in Office 2024. Users will then only see static images of the objects loaded via ActiveX.

In the new Office 2024, which is due to be released in October, Microsoft will disable ActiveX by default for security reasons, Neowin said. There was already a DisableAllActiveX policy that became the default for administrators, but now Microsoft will disable the feature by default in its new Office suite. Those who want to continue using ActiveX can re-enable the functionality via the Trust Center.

ActiveX and security

ActiveX dates back to 1996 and includes controls for creating applications that run on the Internet through web browsers. Previously, this was used to load content such as videos in Internet Explorer. Now, ActiveX controls are often used to embed interactive objects such as buttons or forms in Office documents.

For security reasons, Microsoft will now disable ActiveX in the upcoming Office suite. These ActiveX controls can have unrestricted access to your computer, which could have dire consequences if a hacker uses the ActiveX controls to take over your computer. Microsoft has already phased out the framework for several years. This new feature is in line with the DisableAllActiveX policy that users can enable and has been recommended for security reasons.

With the new version of Office 2024 in October, Microsoft will disable ActiveX controls by default. Office users will no longer be able to interact with ActiveX objects or create new objects once ActiveX is disabled. If you still need the tool, administrators will be able to adjust the policy in the future via the Trust Center.