Skip to main content
E
Eduardo5FD2
Participant
February 14, 2021
Answered

Adobe Flash Update popup

  • February 14, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 25643 views

 

Does any one have this pop up problem? (See picture below).
From memory I recall this popup started to appear way back in November 2020 or thereabouts, every time the laptop is started.
I am now very suspicious that this may not be what it appears to be. By default all programs are set to update automatically, so why hasn't this program updated within the 45 days it claims it will execute automatically?
Furthermore, why update a program that has been discontinued?
What "Usability or Security" can be improved if the program is not going to be used?
Can anyone give any feedback or indicate how to get rid of this nuisance popup?
Thanks

 

 

      Correct answer jeromiec83223024

      The Adobe Uninstaller removes all the files under Adobe's control. Those remaining folders are under Microsoft's control, and they locked it with "trustedinstaller" so you, and I, and all the clever programmers at Adobe can't get rid of it. But Microsoft do have a special patch to get rid of their files. There was a link to this patch in an earlier reply, as it says "Microsoft Update for Removal of Flash Player for IE and Edge on Windows 8 and higher".


      For completeness, here's the link the Windows Update that removes the copy of Flash Player that Microsoft distributes as a built-in component of IE and Edge.  This update will eventually be included in a roll-up update that gets applied automatically.  Users with automatic updates will get it eventually, and in the meantime, Flash Player is already effectively disabled by default. 

       

      For folks that would like to apply that patch manually in the meantime, details follow. 

       

      Microsoft Update for Removal of Flash Player for IE and Edge on Windows 8 and higher:

      https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4577586/update-for-removal-of-adobe-flash-player 

      1 reply

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Legend
      February 14, 2021

      Well, Flash Player is dead, end of life, discontinued and blocked. So whether it updates is pretty irrelevant now. Better to uninstall, but I suspect the updater may be stuck until you choose Download.

       

      When do you get the message - is it after each reboot, before visiting any web site?

      E
      Eduardo5FD2Author
      Participant
      February 15, 2021
      Hi, thank you for your response.

      Correct, Flash Player is dead hence my suspicions and reluctance to "Install" an update for a product that is not even installed on my laptop.
      According to the website https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html
      It states: “Flash Player is either not installed or enabled. Please go to step 2”

      The popup seems to appear on “Cold Booting” only. I do not recall it appearing after any “Warm Boot”. In fact I have tried “Warm Booting” several times just now and it did not appear at all. The twist is that it did not appear after every cold boot either!!

      The web browsers installed on this laptop are Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Opera.
      Traditionally Opera is used as the preferred browser. No browser has been set as the default browser. Visiting any web pages with any of the browsers does not result on the popup appearing. It only does so when starting from OFF and annoyingly only sometimes.

      The core questions remain:

      Did Adobe issue an update in 2020 just before termination of the Flash Player?
      If yes why?
      More importantly having confirmed there is no Flash Player installed or active to disable or uninstall on this laptop, how do I get rid of the popup without having to install anything? I do not trust this popup much less going to download/install anything from it.
      Is there a location in Windows 10 I need to flag / un-flag to disable the popup?

      Please advise.
      jeromiec83223024
      Community Manager
      jeromiec83223024Community Manager
      Community Manager
      February 17, 2021

      Flash Player shipped monthly, aligned with Microsoft Patch Tuesday.  You can see our release notes for details on dates.  https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/flash-player-releasenotes.html

       

      Running our uninstaller would ensure that any Adobe-distributed versions of Flash Player and the accompanying update service are removed.  This is low-effort/low-cost.  I'd just do it again to be sure.  (Also, good instincts on the don't-trust-links-in-popups front.  Here's the direct download.)

       

      Uninstall Flash Player - Windows:
      https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

       

      At that point, the other copy of Flash Player on Windows 10 that's plugged into our auto-update system would be the one distributed by Microsoft for IE and Edge.  You can apply the appropriate Windows Update to remove that.

       

      Microsoft Update for Removal of Flash Player for IE and Edge on Windows 8 and higher

      https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4577586/update-for-removal-of-adobe-flash-player 

       

      I'd reboot at the end of that process, just to make sure that anything that might still be resident in memory isn't.

       

      At that point, if you're still getting pop-ups, I'd consider that a red flag.  It's unlikely to be a legitimate notification, but based on what I'm seeing, it's either legit or a good facsimile.  

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices