Can I install the Flash Player for IE on Windows 10 via the Flash Player installer?

[Rick_liu]

Hi Team,

I have downloaded a standalone installer for the latest version of Adobe Flash Player for IE.

But I can't process to install it on my computer (Window 10) and the following reminder displayed to me on a web page.

"We provide PPAPI and NPAPI version of Flash Player for Windows 8/10 users (Windows 8/10 system comes with ActiveX version of Flash Player, please check "Windows Update Settings" if you need to install the update)"

May I know Windows Update Settings is the only place to install/update the Flash Player for IE on Windows 10?

[Robert Mc Dowell]

yes, Edge and IE on windows 10 manage Flash directly from the windows update system

[Test Screen Name]

It's always installed (in Windows 10). It cannot be removed. You cannot change it because it's part of the system, and protected. You can only use Microsoft's updates. Do you face a problem that leads you to believe you must download from Adobe instead?

[Rick_liu]

Thanks for your replay.

Yes, since Flash Player will be end of life by the end of 2020 but we have a product based on Flash that is still in use by many customers, we have to find a way to keep our product alive after 2020.

So the purpose of asking this question is to check if archiving the Flash Player installers can be an available solution for us in case the ability to run Flash on Windows is being removed through Windows Updates in the future.

[Test Screen Name]

Archiving the Flash Player installers will not be a COMPLIANT ("legal") solution, because Adobe will not renew your redistribution license. Therefore you will not be able to use this archive copy to install for any staff member or customer. I see a lot of efforts to find a loophole. Adobe have said that corporates who have a need to support Flash Player for a transition period will need to talk to Harman about (paid for) licensing after EOL. Keeping your product alive may prove very expensive.

If we ignore the legal aspects (which I don't usually do, but let's talk about it), Microsoft have said that Flash Player support will be removed from IE after the EOL date. I think we can assume that means that it will be blocked by Windows update, and that just using an old Flash Player installer is not going to overcome this block in the browser.

[_maria_ · Accepted solution]

Yes, since Flash Player will be end of life by the end of 2020 but we have a product based on Flash that is still in use by many customers, we have to find a way to keep our product alive after 2020.

If you need assistance with your product post-2020, please contact Adobe's official distribution licensing partner Harman for assistance identifying a solution.

For more information, see https://theblog.adobe.com/update-for-enterprise-adobe-flash-player/

[_maria_]

"May I know Windows Update Settings is the only place to install/update the Flash Player for IE on Windows 10?"

Flash Player ActiveX Control has been embedded in IE since the Windows 8 releaes and in Edge since Windows 10 release.  This isn't something new or recent.

The only way to update the embedded version is via Windows Update.  If you're experiencing difficulty updating Flash Player ActiveX for IE/Edge, please contact Microsoft for assistance.