Did you know that over 1 billion desktop computers still use Adobe Flash Player?
If you’re a Mac user, you might not have Adobe Flash for Mac. It’s a slight possibility, but if it’s the case, your options for playing media using your browser are limited. With no prior technical experience, you may wonder how to get it.
Don’t feel discouraged, it’s easy to figure out.
With this guide, you’ll learn everything to know about Adobe Flash. Read on to find out how to enable Adobe Flash Player using your Mac computer.
Is Adobe Flash Safe to Download?
With cybercrime increasing by 600% because of the recent pandemic, you need to protect yourself online. When trying to download media online, be wary of sites saying you must download Flash first. The link they provide is sometimes their means of delivering malware to your Mac.
Lots of major websites moved away from Flash since Adobe said that they’re ending their support for the software soon. Most of these transitioned to HTML5 or other methods of displaying animated content. But those with little budget for development still rely on Flash.
So, if you need Adobe Flash, do yourself a favor and download it directly from Adobe. That way, you won’t question the links’ legitimacy.
Why Do You Need Adobe Flash for Mac?
Before asking “how do I get Adobe Flash Player for Mac?” you must understand why you need it in the first place. Often, Mac users expect things to just work on their computers. They rarely need to get other software and drivers since their machines download things automatically.
When browsing online, you might receive alerts telling you to download Flash to see media content. The reason is that Safari 10’s introduction half a decade ago disabled Flash by default. This means browsing the internet with the Safari browser might cause you to encounter the “Missing Plug-in” errors or requests for Flash Player installation.
Apple removed Flash by default because of Flash’s vulnerabilities. The many fake Flash Player download links used to infiltrate your computer are also a reason why Flash will stop getting support soon.
Take note, even after installing Flash, it’s not guaranteed to remain there. Whenever you update your Mac operating system, it tends to wipe out Flash. If you intend to use this software in the future, you might need to install it again.
How to Install Flash Player on Your Mac PC
If you absolutely need a Flash Player to view media on older websites, install it by clicking on the Missing Plug-in button. From there, you’ll see the option that lets you download Flash. If it’s legitimate, it should take you to Adobe’s website.
Be cautious and go back as fast as you can if you see that the resulting website isn’t Adobe’s. There’s a high chance that you’re landing on a malicious web page that will download malware to your Mac. Otherwise, if it’s the legitimate website, click on the Download Now button.
The average download size of the installer is 20MB, meaning it won’t take long. After finishing the download, it should appear on your Downloads folder. Double click on it to open the installer and click on the Install Adobe Flash Player option.
A warning will appear, telling you that the installer is an app that came from the internet. It’s common since Apple designed this warning to protect you from illegitimate apps. Since you know it’s from the Adobe website, click Open and enter your password when prompted.
Once the installation starts, you must close programs that need Flash before it proceeds. The good news is that the installer lets you close everything in one fell swoop by clicking Close All and Continue. After it finishes the process, click Finish to complete it.
Why is Flash Player Not Working?
After the installation, there are times when you’ll see the Missing Plug-in errors again. In some cases, Safari will show you a Blocked Plug-in alert when you look at Flash content using the browser. This is common since the application tends to stop working on Mac computers.
This happens because Apple automatically blocks Flash if its version isn’t the most current. It’s a security measure that lets your computer protect itself from security problems. Older versions of Flash have exploits that allow malware delivery to your Mac.
Enable Click-to-Play Flash in Google Chrome
If you prefer Google Chrome for Mac instead of Safari, you’re in luck. You can adjust how Adobe Flash Player runs on your browser. Instead of it blocking Flash on every website, Chrome has a setting that allows you to permit Chrome to display Flash content.
Chrome no longer has an option to play Flash automatically. The pleasant news is that the browser will remember this setting. However, whenever you open this browser, it will display a banner telling you that it won’t support Flash Player after December 2020.
You can’t disable the banner without disabling Adobe Flash. If Chrome blocks Flash, Chrome’s Omnibox has a blocked plugin icon you can click. Click the Manage option since it takes you to the Flash settings page.
You’ll see a toggle button for the Ask first option you can click. That way, it won’t use the default option of blocking websites from running Flash. With this option enabled, you’ll see a Flash object on the web page that you can view by clicking Allow.
Use Adobe Flash for Older Websites
These are some things you must consider when you’re planning to use Adobe Flash for Mac. While its support ends soon, it doesn’t mean it will disappear entirely. Some websites will continue using it, so if you want to view these web content, use this guide to make your experience smoother and safer.
Did you find this guide to Flash Player informative? If so, we encourage you to check out our other posts and learn more useful tips and tricks for your Mac today.
