How To Remove Add-Ons And Toolbars In Internet Explorer

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 3, 2010
Updated • Jul 29, 2016
Internet Explorer
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The following guide walks you through the steps of removing add-ons and toolbars that are installed in Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser.

It is relatively easy to install Internet Explorer add-ons. It is quite common that some programs install add-ons automatically. This is common for instance when you install Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, or other security software on the computer system.

A second common possibility are ActiveX add-ons that can be downloaded and installed directly in the web browser.

Installed add-ons are enabled by default. Internet Explorer ships with a Manage Add-ons configuration screen that enables you to remove add-ons or toolbars, or to deactivate them.

Remove Add-Ons And Toolbars In Internet Explorer

To access Manage Add-ons, do the following:

  1. If you see the menu bar, proceed to step 3.
  2. Tap on the Alt-key to display the menu bar in Internet Explorer.
  3. Select Tools > Manage Add-ons

The main Manage Add-ons window lists different add-on types in a sidebar on the left, and the add-ons of the current selection on the right.

Of special importance is the toolbars and extensions listing, as it lists all add-ons that Internet Explorer picked up one way or the other.

Each add-on is listed with its name and publisher, its status (enabled or disabled), architecture, and if enabled load time.

A right-click on an add-on in Internet Explorer displays a context menu with actions. You may change the state of the add-on, enable or disable it depending on its active state, or select more information to display additional information that include a remove option.

internet explorer remove addons

The more information dialog lists various information including the file name of the add-on and the local folder it is stored in.

The remove button is not enabled for all extensions though, but will remove their link with Internet Explorer if the option is provided.

Older versions of Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 8 for instance, display a different dialog.

The More Information screen display additional information about the add-on including the websites the add-on is enabled on in those versions.

Buttons are provided at the bottom to remove the add-on for all sites or only for the selected sites. If all sites is selected, the add-on is removed from Internet Explorer.

The procedure does not work the same way for default add-ons and add-ons installed by other software programs. Default extensions can be removed so that they do not function on any site but they will continue to appear in the add-on manager. Some add-ons cannot be removed this way at all. It is however theoretically possible to remove the file responsible on the operating system to uninstall it completely.

You have a handful of other options to remove add-ons or toolbars in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.

First, you may remove some directly from the uninstall a program dialog in the Control Panel or the Settings app. Second, some programs that install add-ons on the system allow you to remove those from the system again.

Last but not least, third-party software like Browser Care provide you with options to manage extensions in various browsers.

Summary
How To Remove Add-Ons And Toolbars In Internet Explorer
Article Name
How To Remove Add-Ons And Toolbars In Internet Explorer
Description
The following guide walks you through the steps of removing add-ons and toolbars that are installed in Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser.
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Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. jerry said on August 21, 2015 at 7:05 am
    Reply

    I put freemake on my pc and it does not work and yahoo takes over browser and i do not have yahoo on my
    so how do I get rid yahoo ????

  2. Kalya Garcia said on October 22, 2014 at 7:13 am
    Reply

    Hello Martin,

    Thanks for sharing informative article with us. Actually , I am facing problem with my internet explorer add-ons. I want to install IE add-ons from my desktop file. so what should i do for that i am not able to understand ?

    Thanks in advance

  3. Apple5uck5 said on February 22, 2013 at 12:22 pm
    Reply

    Go to add remove programs and find the toolbar brand like google toolbar) and remove it.

    Also highly recommend to use either Chrome. Firefox, or Opera (if possible).

  4. joseph ferrante said on January 23, 2013 at 11:48 pm
    Reply

    Remove box is greyed out on my computer NOW what do I do?

  5. Leon Victor said on September 12, 2012 at 12:52 pm
    Reply

    I would like to know how to remove favorites star icon in the internet explorer, i already have the favorites on the menu bar so i don’t think i need an icon with a star when i can use it for something else. Your help and attention to the matter is greatly appreciated.

  6. Dave Quarendon said on October 22, 2010 at 10:17 am
    Reply

    Thanks for the info, an unwanted toolbar has been bugging me for weeks

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