I am not quite sure when Adobe Flash Player started turning from one of the best ways to showcase things on the internet to the most avoided element on the internet. Developers are trying to favour other plugins and software that come with fewer frills and lower hassles than the much talked Adobe Flash Player. There was a time when the world of internet advertisements and videos relied solely on the mighty Flash Player which was a developer’s best friend and the means to add swag to websites.
I can hardly remember any decent game that did not use Flash Player. That is how far and wide the reach of the Flash Player was until the mighty Flash Player was toppled from its perch as Google moved to default YouTube content to HTML5. While the presence of Flash Player can still be felt on the internet, it does not hold the same amount of significance any longer. Nevertheless, you may require Flash Player for viewing a variety of content on the internet so this is how you can download and install Flash Player and make sure that you update it to stay safe.
The most recent Adobe update was released on April 7, 2016. It addresses some critical vulnerabilities that were identified in Flash Player version 21.0.0.197 and earlier versions. Follow my steps to install the update to your device. If you do not have Flash Player on your device currently, then follow the steps I am going to mention for downloading and installing it.
Step 1:
Visit official Adobe website to check if you have the latest version of the software. If you do not have Flash Player, visiting this link will automatically prompt you to install it. You will notice Optional Offers which will ask you to install additional software along with Flash Player. If you are not interested in these, then you can uncheck the boxes to avoid installation of these products.
Step 2:
Now click on the yellow Install Now button to proceed.
Step 3:
You will notice that the installation process has been initiated. The installation package will then be downloaded to your computer. You will see a pop-up box that will ask you to save the file. Click on Save File so that you can proceed. This will download the Flash Player installer to your computer. Check your ‘downloads’ folder for the installer and double click on it.
Step 4:
You may face an Open File Security Warning when you double click on the installer. If you see this pop-up box then you must choose Run from the bottom of the box.
Step 5:
At this point, some users who have User Accounts Control activated on their systems will notice that a pop-up box will ask you to enter the password to confirm the installation. Enter your computer’s administrator password to proceed.
Step 6:
You will now notice that the Flash Player Installer dialog has launched. You will be presented with an option to update your preferences regarding the installation of updates. It is recommended that you ‘Allow Adobe to install updates’ however, there are two other options that you can choose from. I prefer the recommended option because it ensures that you are running the latest version of Flash Player and it also helps in getting any patches that can fix problems in the current version of Flash Player.
Step 7:
Once you choose your preference, you will see a progress bar that marks the installation sequence. It can take around a minute or more to complete the installation.
Step 8:
Once the installation is complete you will be asked to restart your browser. Click on Finish to complete the installation and then restart your web browser.
If you are using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, then you will not have to go through these steps because Flash Player is built into these browsers so when a new update is released, it is automatically updated through the browser.
These steps can be followed to install Flash Player if you do not have it on your system at all or to install the updates. Every time Adobe rolls out an update it is securing Flash Player more and making sure that Flash Player is less susceptible to vulnerabilities. This is why it is suggested that you must install Flash Player and keep it updated so that you can stay Safe.