Enabling And Disabling Internet Explorer Extensions

by on Sep 17, 2008 | 5 comments

A big difference between Firefox and IE is the way add-ons are installed. Typically for Firefox, everything is installed through the browser where for IE most everything is installed through a program installation. Much like Firefox however, IE has a built in and easy to use extension manager, however I have found many people do not know how to acutally get to and use the add-on manager.

It’s simple, here is how:

  1. In IE, go to Tools > Manage Add-ons > Enable or Disable Add-ons.
  2. In the Manage Add-ons dialog, you probably want to pay the most attention to items listed in the “Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer”, “Add-ons that run without requiring permission” and “Downloaded Active X Controls” options from the drop down.
  3. Any add-ons which you do not use or, especially, anything suspicious looking you can disable by selecting the item from the list and then check the disable radio button.
  4. Apply your changes and then restart IE.
Free eBook!

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

Post A Comment Using Facebook

  • Luis R.

    A shortcut to this is right there in the browser status bar. It is probably little know because it is not obvious. Onthe right side of the status bar at the bottom of the browser window, there is a location that states what zone you are browsing (i.e. Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, etc.). To the left of this notification are six spaces, the rightmost of them showing an icon for the phishing filter. The third of these spaces counting from the left opens the add-on manager if you double click on it.

    • Jason Faulkner

      Nice one. I had no idea this was there.

  • http://www.safeatlastonline.com Mitch Dominguez

    We hear so much about Active X Controls being a privacy and security risk to our Windows Pcs’. Do you enable Active X Controls? Is it worth the risk to to use this to enhance sites that have Active X for their video viewing? Alternative?
    Mitch Dominguez

    • Jason Faulkner

      Active X are a somewhat common way to distribute mal-ware because developers of these know most internet users will just answer yes to any prompt they see if they want to view the content.
      Just make sure you trust the site before you install any Active X they ‘require’.

  • David Brooks

    Thanks for this tip. This one allowed me to disable all those nauseating animations on the homepage I use. (Unfortunately, yours, too.)

What’s Your Preference?

Daily Alerts

Each day we send out a quick email to thousands of PCMECH readers to notify them of new posts. This email is just a short, plain email with titles and links to our latest posts. You can unsubscribe from this service at any time.

You can subscribe to it by leaving your email address in the following field and confirming your subscription when you get an email asking you to do so.

Enter your email address for
Daily Updates:

Weekly Newsletter

Running for over 6 years, the PCMECH weekly newsletter helps you keep tabs on the world of tech. Each issue includes news bits, an article, an exclusive rant as well as a download of the week. This newsletter is subscribed to by over 28,000 readers (many who also subscribe to the other option) - come join the community!

To subscribe to this weekly newsletter simply add your email address to the following field and then follow the confirmation prompts. You will be able to unsubscribe at any time.

Enter your email address for
Free Weekly Newsletter: