How to Disable Flash Player in Edge and IE?

Adobe will formally stop Flash player support at the end of 2020. However, there are many old websites still use Flash for showing interactive content. Especially, browser games and kid’s story telling websites are popular using Flash player. Unfortunately, SWF or Shockwave Flash files are dangerous from security point of view and can harm your computer by spreading viruses. If you are worrying about that, you have to disable Flash player on the browser to stop Flash content.

Related: How to enable Flash player in Chrome Mac?.

Disabling Flash Player in Windows 10

Microsoft Windows comes with two browsers. Though Microsoft recommends using Chromium based new Edge browser, Internet Explorer is still supplied default with the operating system. Most people still uses Internet Explorer (IE) browser as some files opens in IE by default.

Therefore, you have to disable Flash player in both Edge and IE. In addition, you can check the default apps for opening files so that you use Edge instead of IE for all web related content.

Disable Flash Player in Edge

Follow the below instructions to disable Flash player in Edge.

• Open Edge browser and click on the three dots “Settings and more” button on the top right corner. Alternatively, you can press “Alt + X” shortcuts to open settings menu in Edge.
• When the menu opens, click on the “Settings” option.

• Select “Advanced” settings from the sidebar (last option).
• Disable the switch under “Use Adobe Flash Player” option.

As you can see Microsoft also recommend keeping the option turned off to work safer when browsing the web.

Disable Flash Player in Internet Explorer

Follow the below instructions to disable Flash player in Internet Explorer browser. Unlike Edge browser that default has shortcut on the desktop and pinned to taskbar, you have first locate the IE browser to change the settings.

• Click on the Windows Search box and type “internet explorer”.
• You will the Internet Explorer desktop app as a first result.
• Click on the “Open” link to launch the browser.

• When you are in IE, click on the settings that shows as a Gear icon on the top right beside the smiley icon.
• Click on “Manage add-ons” option to go to the add-ons section of IE browser.

• You will see “Manage Add-ons” popup showing all installed add-ons on your browser. However, IE will only show the currently loaded add-ons and you may not find Flash in the list.
• Click on the dropdown under “Show” section and select “All add-ons” option.
• It will take few seconds to load all the add-ons. Scroll and find “Shockwave Flash Object” under “Microsoft Windows Third Party Application Component” section.

• Select the add-on and click on the “Disable” button.

Disabling Flash for Specific Websites

As mentioned, still many websites use Flash for loading content. Disabling Flash player will make all Flash components on the website stop working. If you trust any specific website, you can provide exemption only for the website to allow Flash while blocking all other websites.

When you blocked Flash, both Edge and IE will show you a prompt when blocking Flash objects on the website. You can click on the Flash icon and allow the website to use Flash. This will add into the exception list that you can modify any point of time.

When you are in the “Manage Add-ons” dialog, right click on the “Shockwave Flash Object” add-on.

• Select “More information” option.

• You will see more details about the add-on and the list of websites exempted from blocking.

• Select the website and click on “Remove all sites” to block Flash on all websites.

Similarly, on Edge, go to advanced settings and click on the “Manage permissions” button.

Here you can view the list of websites you have allowed to use different features on the browser. Check the website you have allowed to use Flash and delete the permission.