| Price | Free |
| Version | 32.0.0.465 |
| Category | multimedia |
| Developer | Adobe Inc. |
| Source | Browser Plugin |
| Rating | (4.74) |
First, you need to head to the Adobe Flash Player website, which you can find at get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/. To download Adobe Flash Player, you need to:
After hitting the download button, the Adobe Flash Player will download to your system. Next, click on the app in your Downloads folder. It should be called Install_flash_player: with a suffix on the end for the version type. For example, on Mac for Chrome, it’s called install_flash_player_osx_ppapi.dmg.
Double-clicking on the file will launch the installer. The installer installs an app on your computer but doesn’t install Flash yet. Next, double click on the newly installed app (it should look like a black folder with a white ‘f’). Now you’ll be asked to confirm you’ve read the terms and conditions before you can hit the install button. Hit the install button, and in 5-30 seconds, you should get confirmation that the Adobe Flash Player installation is complete.
Once you’ve installed Adobe Flash Player, all you need to do is restart your browser (quit and open it) and navigate back to the site that requires Flash. You should now be able to play the Flash-dependent web element. If it still isn’t working, then you should restart your computer and try again: turning it off and on again rarely fails!
Flash reached massive success quickly due to its ability to smoothly and seamlessly display interactive media. Almost any online game can be hosted using the software. The same is true for media players, animations, and graphics. Even advanced animations experience little or no lag with Flash. It was a game-changer for the internet because it allowed small sites with maybe one or two designers (just a guy in his basement) to create professional-looking websites. It closed the gap between the big companies and the small companies: anyone could make a professional looking site with stunning graphics.
Many businesses love Flash because it helps bring their multimedia web ideas to life. For example, a live chat window, web applications, interactive or video advertisements are just some of the areas where companies utilize Flash. It prevents sites from looking drab or bare, which can erode trust in the website.
If you frequently visit a vast range of sites, some small and some large, then you’ll encounter needing Adobe Flash Player. Without the Player, you miss out on viewing videos and graphics that add richness and depth to the site. With video being a popular format for distributing information (whether it’s educational or marketing based), you can miss out on a lot by not being able to view the content. Over the last decade, most businesses have focused much more heavily on videos because users generally prefer to watch videos over receiving emails or reading blog posts.
Learning how to create Flash elements for business is relatively easy. You can accomplish creating some advanced looking graphics for your site, but with a smooth learning curve. Adobe alternatives generally have a much steeper learning curve, making it more challenging for small companies.
Another significant advantage of Adobe Flash Player is that it integrates well with other web technologies. It simplifies the process of designing your website because you don’t have to pick and choose between different technologies; you can have it all. For users, it means you get a consistent experience. The only exception to this integration pro is older Apple devices, which often struggle to display Flash elements. However, the number of people who have these old devices are dwindling.
Adobe Flash Player rose to popularity in part due to how quick it is at displaying interactive web elements. There is a cost to this, though. Many people complain that Adobe Flash Player can deplete battery life on laptops faster than would otherwise be expected. However, this isn’t a concern if you’re using a desktop or have your laptop plugged in.
If you run into problems with Flash, or if you’re a developer creating Flash elements for your site, then you’re in luck. There’s an extensive community of Adobe Flash Developers out there who are active on online forums and happy to help with any issues.
If you’re a user, there’s not much to say here because if you need Flash to use an app or web element, then you need it! Downloading and installing Flash is the right move. It would be like debating whether beans and rice constitute a tasty meal when you haven’t eaten for two days: you want it because you need it.
If you’re a developer, Flash is still a good option for right now since plenty of sites are still using Flash. However, the internet is moving away from Flash, so you might want to consider this in your long-term plan.
