How (& Why) To Uninstall Flash Player As Adobe Stops Supporting It - Screen Rant

Adobe has finally given up on its Flash Player browser plugin technology and every major browser has agreed that it is time to move on. Some made the decision much earlier, citing performance issues and security concerns. In the beginning, Flash Player was well-loved since it provided advanced capabilities that have only recently been replaced with equal or better technology.

Adobe Flash Player began life as FutureSplash Animator in 1995, offering a lightweight vector-based drawing and animation system that was perfect for the early internet. Its primary competition was the more widely established Macromedia Shockwave, which was a raster animation system. The much larger company, Macromedia, acquired the developer of FutureSplash and renamed the product Flash. Macromedia expanded the capabilities to such a degree that entire websites could be built-in Flash and the plugin reached widespread use on desktop computers. In 2005, an even bigger developer, Adobe, acquired Macromedia, keeping the Flash development environment intact along with the popular browser plug-in Flash Player. By 2011, Flash was such an accepted standard, that it was built into web browsers and operating systems, making it a bit of a surprise when Apple refused to allow it on the iPhone and iPad. This was the beginning of the end as it brought attention to the flaws and risks inherent with Flash Player.

It took another 9 years for the consensus to be that Flash Player is no longer needed. The plug-in is not supported by any major browser or even by its developer, Adobe. The company notes that open standards exist that can replace every feature of Flash Player content. HTML5, WebGL, and WebAssembly have advanced and superseded Flash in terms of security, transparency, and support. Vector drawing can be handled by SVG and animation is possible with CSS. It’s not important to know what these various acronyms and names mean, but it is good to note that Flash Player can be replaced by any and all web developers with superior technology now. Since Adobe no longer supports the plug-in, there will be no further security updates and it is recommended that it be uninstalled if using a browser that still contains the Flash Player plug-in.

How To Uninstall Flash Player

Since Adobe discontinued its Flash Player at the end of 2020, no new security updates will be released and the company recommends uninstalling the plug-in from web browsers. By January 12, 2021, Adobe will block Flash content from running in Flash Player. Some browser developers have already disabled the plug-in. Some users will see a reminder from Adobe to uninstall Flash Player from their system. In this case, the Flash Player will prompt the user to uninstall and begin the process after confirmation. If for some reason, the uninstall option is not found, there is an Adobe uninstaller that will remove the plug-in.

Adobe Flash was a remarkable development environment, blending artistic expression and heavy-duty coding. It took nearly a decade to replace the features found in the plug-in and even then it was only managed with a diverse selection of tools that have to be mastered independently. For those that worked with Flash it will be sorely missed. However, the problems associated with the Flash Player plug-in were too severe and solving them would have meant significantly reducing the capabilities that made Flash among the most useful and versatile web technologies ever created.

Next: Microsoft Update Removes Adobe Flash Player From Windows Devices

Source: Adobe

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Alan Truly (313 Articles Published)

Alan is a Tech Writer living in Nova Scotia, Canada. A tech-enthusiast since his youth, Alan stays current on what is new and what is next. With over 30 years experience with computer, video and photo equipment, you can expect useful tips and insights in his writing. Alan has a degree in programming, many years focused on design, editing and animation. The last few years managing logistics and e-commerce operations for a mobile accessories company took much of his time. Alan is a true jack of all digital trades in this ever changing computer-enriched world. To stay flexible in thinking and in body, he practices yoga, light cardio and eats a whole food diet, based on minimally processed plants.