Browsers will end their support for Flash-based ads, citing security concerns, among others. Apple was the first company to block the plugin in Safari; it was only years later when Google, Microsoft, and the others followed suit.
By the end of 2020, all browsers won’t be using this outdated plugin anymore. Instead, all ads will be HTML5-based. Adobe itself will stop updating and distributing the Flash player at the end of 2020.
Considering that’s still months away, however, some pesky Flash-based ads are still around. That’s why we’re teaching you how to get rid of Adobe Flash Player ads once and for all.
Keep on reading to learn how to do it on the three most popular browsers.
How to Get Rid of Adobe Flash Player Ads in Chrome
First, open Google Chrome and open the Settings. If you have Windows, you’ll find the Settings menu next to your profile picture, indicated by three stacked dots. As an alternate option, you can also type “chrome://settings” in the address bar.
Here, you’ll be able to change the settings for autofill, search engine, and so on. But, you need to go to the Advanced settings and look for Privacy. Once here, scroll to the Content Settings.
Under the Content section, you’ll find the option for Flash. Click it, and it will take you to a new page. Make sure it’s disabled; the other option is to let the browser ask you first.
Instructions for Mac
If you have a Mac, go to Chrome in the menu bar and select Preferences. Typing “chrome://settings” also works here.
On the left-hand side, you’ll see different options. Choose Privacy and Security, then choose Site Settings.
Scroll down to Content. Toggle the switch to “Block sites from running Flash” if it isn’t.
Manage Exceptions
If you have no other way but to use Flash on a specific website, toggle the switch to “Ask first.” This way, Chrome won’t play any Flash-based media on any site unless you give permission first.
You can also add a website to your list of websites allowed to use Flash. To the left of the site’s address, you can find a lock or info button. Click it and then select Site Settings.
This will open a new tab. Find Flash underneath Permissions and set it to Allow or Block.
How to Get Rid of Adobe Flash Player Ads in Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox blocks Flash, too, by default. If this has changed, open the app and go to the Settings menu. It’s located at the top-right corner, indicated by three lines stacked on each other.
Then, select Add-ons. This will take you to the Add-ons Manager tab. Look for Plugins among the options on the left-hand side panel.
Next, look for Shockwave Flash; next to it is an Options button and a drop-down menu. Click the latter and choose Never Activate.
In the same way, you can choose to Always Activate or Ask to Activate Flash. If you click Options, you can further customize your Flash settings. You can enable/disable Adobe Flash protected mode or block/unblock dangerous and intrusive Flash content.
These instructions also work on Firefox installed on Mac.
How to Get Rid of Adobe Flash Player Ads in Microsoft Edge
Launch Edge on your device, and look for the More button symbolized by three dots on the top-right corner of the window. Click Settings on the drop-down menu, then look for View advanced settings at the far bottom.
In the Advanced settings menu, look for the toggle for the Adobe Flash Player. Set it to off to disable Flash content, or you can set it to on.
Keep in mind that these settings eliminate Adobe Flash player ads and media to all websites, not only the site you’re currently visiting. You might need to refresh the page or restart Microsoft Edge to apply it, though.
Turn It On for Specific Sites
If you want it on for some sites only, look for Site Permissions after going to Settings. There’s an Adobe Flash option here; toggle it to Ask before running Flash.
This way, Edge will ask you each time you visit a site that uses Flash.
How to Get Rid of Adobe Flash Player Ads in Internet Explorer
Yes, Internet Explorer is still around, even though Microsoft itself doesn’t want people using it. That comes around to almost twice as many Safari users.
When you open Internet Explorer, look for the Tools button with a gear symbol. It’s at the top-right corner of the window. It will open a drop-down menu; click Manage add-ons.
Then, find the Shockwave Flash Object option. You’ll see its details like the Publisher and whether it’s enabled or disabled beside it.
To enable/disable, click the button at the bottom-right corner. If it’s disabled, the button will show enable, but it will show disable if it’s enabled.
How to Get Rid of Adobe Flash Player Ads in Safari
You might have gone, “how do I download Adobe Flash player?” at some point that might have led you to download it on your Mac. Even though Safari doesn’t use Flash, you might still have had it enabled for a few browser games.
To make sure, open the app and go to Preferences. In the new window, navigate to the Websites tab. Scroll down a bit to find the Plug-ins section. Under that, you should see the Adobe Flash Player option.
Make sure the box has no checkmark; otherwise, it’s enabled. Click the box again to remove the checkmark and disable it.
If you choose to allow it, you can configure specific websites to run it. You can also set it to ask before visiting sites outside the list or to run/don’t run automatically.
Get Rid of Adobe Flash Player Ads, Videos, and More
Note that disabling Flash player will not only get rid of ads. It will also get rid of any media that depends on the Flash player to run. This includes Flash-based games, videos, and so on.
Regardless, it’s a good idea to disable it altogether because of the security risks it poses. If you need more help with that or if you want to learn how to still use Flash in 2020 and beyond, check out more of our guides and blog posts today.
