This step-by-step guide will take you through the process to completely uninstall Adobe Flash Player from your Mac. The regular removal of unwanted and unused software will clean up your Mac and keep it running smoothly.
- Update Adobe Flash Macbook
- Adobe Flash Macbook Air
- Adobe Flash Update
- Adobe Flash Macbook Chrome
- Adobe Flash Macbook Pro
- Adobe Flash Macbook Air
Update Adobe Flash Macbook
What is Adobe Flash Player and Why Remove it?
Flash Player is a browser plugin that enables the user to stream and watch video (on sites such as YouTube), viewing multimedia content, and interacting with RIA (Rich Internet Applications).
Microsoft Edge doesn't come with Adobe Flash Player installed, but you can enable it to view websites that still use Flash. If you prefer Microsoft Edge over the default Safari, you can also. Shop Apple MacBook Air 13.3' Pre-Owned Laptop Intel Core i5 4GB Memory 128GB Flash Storage Silver at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.
As of 1 January 2021, Adobe will not be offering and updating Flash Player anymore. Web browsers will rather be making use of the advancements of HTML5, WebGL, and WebAssembly, therefore negating the need for Flash Player.
Method 1. Using Adobe Flash Player Install Manager
By far the most effective and cleanest way to remove Flash Player is by making use of the Installation Manager. This simple process will ensure all relevant Flash Player files are removed.
Locate Adobe Flash Player Install Manager on your Mac
1. From the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click on Go and select Utilities. If you can’t find Utilities, it also appears in the Application folder.
2. In the Utilities folder, find and double click on the Adobe Flash Player Install Manager application.
Uninstall Flash Player
1. Click on Uninstall
2. If prompted, enter your password to allow the uninstallation and click on Install Helper.
3. The uninstaller will prompt you to close all open browsers. You can close them manually or click on them in the window.
4. After the uninstaller runs, a window will popup that confirms that Adobe Flash Player has been removed from your computer.
Confirm that Flash Player has been removed
1. To confirm that it has been removed from your computer, head over to the Adobe Flash Player website ( https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html). Under the first step, click on the button that says Check Now.
2. If the uninstallation process was successful, you will get a notice that Flash Player is not installed.
Delete installation file
1. To finish off the complete removal of Adobe Flash Player from your computer, head over to Finder. In the Search field, enter “install_flash_player”.
2. Right-click on the install_flash_player_osx.dmg file and select Move to Trash.
Method 2. App Cleaner and Uninstaller
One of my favorite applications for my Mac is App Cleaner and Uninstaller. Not only does it assist you to quickly uninstall unwanted applications, but it also helps you find remaining files that are hard to find.
Launch App Cleaner and Uninstaller
Open the App Cleaner and Uninstaller App from the Applications folder by double-clicking on it.
Remove Flash Player files
1. Once opened, find Flash Player in the left-hand pane and click on it.
2. On the top of the right-hand pane, check the box next to Select All. Then click on Remove in the bottom right.
3. A window will appear to review and confirm the selection to be removed. If you are happy with the selection, click on Remove in the bottom right to proceed.
4. App Cleaner & Uninstaller confirms that the files selected were successfully removed.
5. Unfortunately, all files related to Adobe Flash player could not be removed, because we are running the free version. Upgrading to the Pro version will allow you to remove it completely.
However, App Cleaner & Uninstaller does show in which directories the remaining relevant files are stored. Similar to Step 3, select Flash Player from the left pane.
6. While hovering over the first file (Flash Player.prefPane) in the right pane, click on the blue arrow icon.
7. This will bring up the specific directory for the file selected. Right-click on the file and select Move to Trash.
Adobe Flash Macbook Air
8. Repeat the step for the remaining files in App Cleaner and Uninstaller under Flash Player. This should remove the Adobe Flash Player application on the left pane.
Remove Flash Player Install Manager files
1. Now, still in the left pane of App Cleaner and Uninstaller, scroll up and find Adobe Flash Player Install Manager. Select all files by checking the box next to Select All in the right pane and click Remove on the bottom right.
2. Review and confirm the selected files by clicking on Remove in the next window.
3. A window appears confirming the removal of the selected files.
4. Hover over the last remaining file, Adobe Flash Player Install Manager in the right pane, and click on the blue arrow icon.
5. This will open the Utilities folder in Finder showing the Adobe Flash Player Install Manager application. Right-click on the application and select Move to Trash.
6. To complete the removal of Flash Player, go to Finder and in the Search field, type “install_flash_player”.
7. Right cling on the install_flash_player_osx.dmg file and select Move to Trash.
Adobe has finally ended support for Flash Player from 1 January 2021, and it will altogether disable the plug-in from 12 January. However, the software will continue to remain on your system. It is wiser to uninstall Adobe Flash Player from your Mac. Here’s why;
Why should you remove Adobe Flash from your Mac?
In 2017, Adobe asked developers to explore other open formats for Flash-like content, as it would seize development & distribution of the Flash Player by the end of 2020. And now that the day has come, Adobe strongly suggests that users remove Flash from their Mac & PCs as:
“Uninstalling Flash Player will help to secure your system since Adobe does not intend to issue Flash Player updates or security patches after the EOL date.”
So, to ensure that your Mac is safe from any harm, you should quickly uninstall the software.
- How to uninstall Adobe Flash Player on your Mac
While not too complicated, there are a few steps involved in the process. First and foremost, confirm if your device has Flash or not. Click on the Apple icon → System Preferences → look for the Flash icon.
A missing icon means your device does not have Flash, and you are good to go. But if it is present, move on to the next step.
Determine your Mac’s OS version
- Click the Apple icon & select About This Mac.
- Here, note the version of your macOS.
Depending upon your macOS version, download the correct Adobe Flash Player uninstaller
How to uninstall Adobe Flash Player on your Mac
First, you have to download and run uninstaller on your Mac
- Mac OS X, version 10.6 and later: uninstall_flash_player_osx.dmg
- Mac OS X, version 10.4 and 10.5: uninstall_flash_player_osx.dmg
- Mac OS X, version 10.3 and earlier: uninstall_flash_player_osx_10.2.dmg
Uninstall Adobe Flash on Mac OS X 10.4 or later
- Double click on the downloaded file to run it.
- In the new window, double-click the Uninstaller icon, click Open if it asks for permission.
- Here, select Uninstall, and if prompted, enter your devicepassword.
- Close or Force Quit all open browsers.
Note: Don’t quit the uninstaller window; it will stop the uninstallation process. - Once the uninstallation is completed, click Done.
- Open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, copy-paste this path /Library/Preferences/Macromedia/FlashPlayer, and delete this directory.
- Again, press Command+Shift+G, copy-paste this path /Library/Caches/Adobe/Flash Player, and delete this directory as well.
- To verify, restart your Mac and open this link in your browser to check Flash Player’s status.
Adobe Flash Update
Run Adobe Flash uninstaller on your Mac OS X 10.1 to 10.3
- Double-click to open the uninstaller and then double-click the Uninstaller icon to run it.
- Click Continue to start the process.
- Close all open browsers and other apps that might use Flash Player.
- Once completed, the uninstaller will close automatically.
- Restart, open the browser, & check the status via this website.
If you feel this is too much of a hassle, you can use an app cleaner for Mac to get rid of Flash.
Uninstalled Adobe Flash Player successfully on Mac!
Adobe Flash Macbook Chrome
Flash has been an integral part of my growing days, and deleting it from my Mac, certainly makes me nostalgic. But it is what it is! If you are in the same boat, check out the Internet Archive website, as they plan to preserve Flash games and animations forever.
Adobe Flash Macbook Pro
What are your childhood memories with Flash? Share them in the comment section below.
Adobe Flash Macbook Air
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