diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ini_file-use-inactive-options-when-possible.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ini_file-use-inactive-options-when-possible.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..32b45bbeda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/ini_file-use-inactive-options-when-possible.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+bugfixes:
+  - ini_file - fix a bug where the inactive options were not used when possible (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/6575).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/ini_file.py b/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
index 0f2df9f508..f084ce6b03 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
@@ -328,14 +328,14 @@ def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, values=None,
         # override option with no value to option with value if not allow_no_value
         if len(values) > 0:
             for index, line in enumerate(section_lines):
-                if not changed_lines[index] and match_active_opt(option, line):
+                if not changed_lines[index] and match_opt(option, line):
                     newline = assignment_format % (option, values.pop(0))
                     (changed, msg) = update_section_line(changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, newline, msg)
                     if len(values) == 0:
                         break
         # remove all remaining option occurrences from the rest of the section
         for index in range(len(section_lines) - 1, 0, -1):
-            if not changed_lines[index] and match_active_opt(option, section_lines[index]):
+            if not changed_lines[index] and match_opt(option, section_lines[index]):
                 del section_lines[index]
                 del changed_lines[index]
                 changed = True
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml
index b19a8799c1..edfc93e42b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@
       - content17 == expected17
 
 
-- name: "test-values 18 - Ensure 'beverage=coke' is 'abesent' in section '[drinks]'"
+- name: "test-values 18 - Ensure 'beverage=coke' is 'absent' in section '[drinks]'"
   ini_file:
     path: "{{ output_file }}"
     section: drinks
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@
       - content18 == expected18
 
 
-- name: "test-values 19 - Ensure non-existant 'beverage=coke' is 'abesent' in section '[drinks]'"
+- name: "test-values 19 - Ensure non-existent 'beverage=coke' is 'absent' in section '[drinks]'"
   ini_file:
     path: "{{ output_file }}"
     section: drinks
@@ -579,8 +579,8 @@
       [section1]
       var1 = aaa
       # comment in section
-      var2 = foo
-      # var2 = bar
+      # var2 = some value
+      # comment after section
 
       [section2]
       var3 = ccc
@@ -613,8 +613,8 @@
       [section1]
       var1 = aaa
       # comment in section
-      var2 = foo
-      # var2 = bar
+      # var2 = some value
+      # comment after section
 
       [section2]
       var3 = ccc
@@ -629,14 +629,13 @@
       - content22 == expected22
 
 
-- name: "test-values 23 - Ensure 'var2=[foo, foobar]' is 'present' in section '[section1]'"
+- name: "test-values 23 - Ensure 'var2=foo' is 'present' in section '[section1]', replacing commented option 'var2=some value'"
   ini_file:
     path: "{{ output_file }}"
     section: section1
     option: var2
     values: 
       - foo
-      - foobar
     state: present
   register: result23
 
@@ -647,7 +646,6 @@
 
 - name: test-values 23 - set expected content and get current ini file content
   set_fact:
-    content23: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
     expected23: |
       
       # Some comment to test
@@ -659,28 +657,28 @@
       var1 = aaa
       # comment in section
       var2 = foo
-      var2 = foobar
-      # var2 = bar
+      # comment after section
 
       [section2]
       var3 = ccc
       # comment after section
-- name: test-values 23 - assert 'changed' and msg 'option added' and content is as expected
+    content23: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
+
+- name: test-values 23 - assert 'changed' and msg 'option changed' and content is as expected
   assert:
     that:
       - result23 is changed
-      - result23.msg == 'option added'
+      - result23.msg == 'option changed'
       - content23 == expected23
 
 
-- name: "test-values 24 - Ensure 'var2=[foo, foobar, bar]' is 'present' in section '[section1]' replacing commented option 'var2=bar'"
+- name: "test-values 24 - Ensure 'var2=[foo, foobar]' is 'present' in section '[section1]'"
   ini_file:
     path: "{{ output_file }}"
     section: section1
     option: var2
-    values: 
+    values:
       - foo
-      - bar
       - foobar
     state: present
   register: result24
@@ -692,7 +690,6 @@
 
 - name: test-values 24 - set expected content and get current ini file content
   set_fact:
-    content24: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
     expected24: |
       
       # Some comment to test
@@ -705,16 +702,18 @@
       # comment in section
       var2 = foo
       var2 = foobar
-      var2 = bar
+      # comment after section
 
       [section2]
       var3 = ccc
       # comment after section
-- name: test-values 24 - assert 'added' and msg 'option changed' and content is as expected
+    content24: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
+
+- name: test-values 24 - assert 'changed' and msg 'option added' and content is as expected
   assert:
     that:
       - result24 is changed
-      - result24.msg == 'option changed'
+      - result24.msg == 'option added'
       - content24 == expected24