How to replace ieframe.dll

Question

How to replace ieframe.dll

Kaj Bredenberg 20

I need to replace for VBA macro ieframe.dll in \SystenWOW64 directory, where Micrsoft Internet Control is not working. Error: Method ot data member not found, but it's defined in Tools>References.

The Office Excel is using a different version of this dll in other Windows machine, where it's working.

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AlexDN 11,430 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Dear @Kaj Bredenberg,
Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand you are trying to replace or delete the ieframe.dll file in the SysWOW64 folder, but Windows only allows you to copy it and not remove or overwrite it.

To clarify, this behaviour is expected. Modern Windows versions protect ieframe.dll as a system‑owned, retired Internet Explorer component, so the file is locked by the operating system. Windows uses TrustedInstaller to protect these files, which prevents you from deleting or replacing them manually. Attempts to replace the file are blocked for security and system‑integrity reasons.

At the same time, Internet Explorer components, including ieframe.dll which have been retired and disabled, and Microsoft no longer supports re‑installing or regenerating them. Because the IE engine is disabled, Excel VBA controls that depend on it (such as Microsoft Internet Controls) may no longer work.

Even if you could replace the DLL, Excel would still not load the old Internet Explorer control because the underlying IE runtime is no longer active. The long‑term supported approach is to update the VBA solution to use the new Edge WebView2 control.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

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Kaj Bredenberg 20 Reputation points

2026-02-04T09:09:58.1666667+00:00

I understand. Perhaps I'll try to move to WebView2 control in the future. Is WebVew2 free, and where is this available?

[Moderator note: Personally Identifiable Information removed]
AlexDN 11,430 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-05T06:53:49.01+00:00

Dear @Kaj Bredenberg,
Yes, WebView2 is free to use. It is already included on Windows 10 and 11 through the WebView2 Runtime, and many apps use it automatically.

If you want to install or use WebView2 in your own application, you can download it here: https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/webview2/
Kaj Bredenberg 20 Reputation points

2026-02-05T08:38:29.4266667+00:00

Thanks for info!

The actual problem behind this problem is the following:

My work machine with F-Secure is putting into quarnatine the Excel VBA macro, which is using Webbrowser. That's why I have tried to use another machine. But then I saw that Webbroser is not working in that machine (op.sys is Windows 10). It gives error "Member not found", if I try to use Webbrowser. So that's why I was trying to change ieframe.dll in that laptop.

I have sent a sample of this Excel macro to F-Secure, but they say that it doesn't contain any virus in their investigation.

So I would need to fix my work machine somehow. I suspect that F-Secure is giving a false alert.

My Office 365 has been updated on 26.01.2026, and the problem has come out after that.

I would need this Excel-macro A.S.A.P because my customer is using this macro, and I should make some updates to that.

I have also updated Office (64b version) to my another laptop (no help).

So the original question was kind of obsolete, because I actually want to use my real work machine, not my test laptop. On this other laptop I'm not using F-Secure, but another application (Avast).

I'm confused what to do next! Later I could try Webview2, but I'm not sure that, if that would help with F-Secure problem.

regards, [Moderator note: Personally Identifiable Information removed]
AlexDN 11,430 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-09T16:27:23.6066667+00:00

Dear @Kaj Bredenberg,
Thanks for the update. The issue stems from the use of the legacy WebBrowser control, which relies on Internet Explorer components like ieframe.dll. Since IE has been retired and its components disabled in modern Windows and Office, this control no longer functions, even if the DLL is present. Replacing ieframe.dll isn’t possible or effective due to system protections and the deprecation of IE.

The best path forward is to migrate your macro to use the modern Microsoft Edge WebView2 control. It’s free, included in Windows 10/11, and actively supported. This change will also reduce the chance of antivirus false positives, especially if you digitally sign the macro and coordinate with F-Secure to whitelist it.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

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Kaj Bredenberg 20 Reputation points

2026-02-04T09:09:58.1666667+00:00

I understand. Perhaps I'll try to move to WebView2 control in the future. Is WebVew2 free, and where is this available?

[Moderator note: Personally Identifiable Information removed]
AlexDN 11,430 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-05T06:53:49.01+00:00

Dear @Kaj Bredenberg,
Yes, WebView2 is free to use. It is already included on Windows 10 and 11 through the WebView2 Runtime, and many apps use it automatically.

If you want to install or use WebView2 in your own application, you can download it here: https://developer.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/webview2/
Kaj Bredenberg 20 Reputation points

2026-02-05T08:38:29.4266667+00:00

Thanks for info!

The actual problem behind this problem is the following:

My work machine with F-Secure is putting into quarnatine the Excel VBA macro, which is using Webbrowser. That's why I have tried to use another machine. But then I saw that Webbroser is not working in that machine (op.sys is Windows 10). It gives error "Member not found", if I try to use Webbrowser. So that's why I was trying to change ieframe.dll in that laptop.

I have sent a sample of this Excel macro to F-Secure, but they say that it doesn't contain any virus in their investigation.

So I would need to fix my work machine somehow. I suspect that F-Secure is giving a false alert.

My Office 365 has been updated on 26.01.2026, and the problem has come out after that.

I would need this Excel-macro A.S.A.P because my customer is using this macro, and I should make some updates to that.

I have also updated Office (64b version) to my another laptop (no help).

So the original question was kind of obsolete, because I actually want to use my real work machine, not my test laptop. On this other laptop I'm not using F-Secure, but another application (Avast).

I'm confused what to do next! Later I could try Webview2, but I'm not sure that, if that would help with F-Secure problem.

regards, [Moderator note: Personally Identifiable Information removed]
AlexDN 11,430 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-09T16:27:23.6066667+00:00

Dear @Kaj Bredenberg,
Thanks for the update. The issue stems from the use of the legacy WebBrowser control, which relies on Internet Explorer components like ieframe.dll. Since IE has been retired and its components disabled in modern Windows and Office, this control no longer functions, even if the DLL is present. Replacing ieframe.dll isn’t possible or effective due to system protections and the deprecation of IE.

The best path forward is to migrate your macro to use the modern Microsoft Edge WebView2 control. It’s free, included in Windows 10/11, and actively supported. This change will also reduce the chance of antivirus false positives, especially if you digitally sign the macro and coordinate with F-Secure to whitelist it.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Answer 1

Kaj Bredenberg 20

I'm not able to replace ieframe.dll ot delete it in SyswWOW64 directory.

I can only copy that.

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