Undoubtedly, everyone who works with the Internet, multimedia content, is a developer of web or media applications, is constantly faced with an integrated plug-in based on Flash technology from Adobe. Consider how to update the Flash Player plugin in several simple ways in different browsers without affecting the development environment.
What is Flash Player and what is it for: general information
Flash technology itself is unified. The player built into browsers based on it allows you to display the multimedia content of a web page most correctly and in full. These include vector and bitmap graphics, animation, video and audio.
The plug-in itself is installed in the form of special libraries, and it does not have an executable component to run as an EXE file, so it is impossible to use it as a regular program - only in the environments into which it is integrated. The question of how to update the Shockwave Player or Flash Player plugin will be considered in relation to Internet browsers, although some points should be taken into account by developers.
What is the difference between Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Shockwave Player?
Many users, apparently out of ignorance, believe that these two names correspond to the same plugin. This is not true at the root. Although the technologies used in their operation are very similar in their basis, in fact, there is a rather big difference between them.
Adobe Flash Player is a standard version with a minimum set of features. But Adobe Shockwave has a lot more. The toolkit includes XML analysis tools, HTML management, supports control of vector forms and objects, allows you to remotely search files, has a special scripting language, etc. It is not surprising that it is on its basis that the majority of multiplayer chats are created.
Let's see how to update the Shockwave Flash plugin or standard player. To simplify the understanding, combine these plugins into one.
How to update plugins automatically
During the initial installation, the plugin integrates its own updater into the system, which by default is constantly in active mode. If you have a permanent Internet connection, there is no update problem.
The updater itself monitors the appearance of new versions and at a certain point invites the user to update. You just need to accept the offer and download the distribution kit from the official site after redirecting. But you will have to install the plugin yourself. Unfortunately, there is no automatic installation and integration into the system. All automation comes down to the fact that the updater promptly reports on the availability of a new version of the plugin.
How to update the Adobe Flash plugin manually?
If for some reason automatic updating is not available (the updater is disabled, there is no Internet), it can be done manually by downloading the latest version of the player from the official Adobe resource.
In some cases, updating the Shockwave Flash plugin or standard player fails, especially if the distribution is not downloaded from an official resource, but from another source. The system displays a message that a later version is installed on the computer. To avoid such situations, you first need to check the modification in the system itself.
To do this, in the “Control Panel” you need to use the programs and components section and select the menu for installing and uninstalling applications. In it, we simply find the player you are looking for and compare the installed version with the one that is supposed to be installed. Further, as they say, is a matter of technology.
Update in Mozilla
Now let’s dwell on the update issue directly in browsers. There are two ways to update the Shockwave plugin or regular Flash Player in the Mozilla browser.
In the first case, in the settings you need to go to add-ons and select the plugins section. We find in the list the element that interests us and look at its state. If on the contrary there is a notification that it is outdated and vulnerable, just click the button for immediate update, and at the end of the process we restart the browser.
How to update the plugin in another way? Simple too. You need to go to the official Mozilla website and turn to the section of automatic online verification of installed plugins for relevance. In the list of results we find the player. If there is a warning there, as in the previous case, update the plugin and restart the browser.
Update in Internet Explorer
Now let's see how to update the plugin in IE. First we enter the settings menu by clicking on the button with the gear, then use the settings section, where we select their types.
Next, in the toolbar menu we find the extensions, where among all the plugins the desired player will be shown. If necessary, run the update.
Update in Opera
This browser has an interesting opportunity: in some cases, the update of the browser itself automatically updates all installed components and plugins. If this option is not provided, you can do otherwise.
In the address bar, enter opera: plugins (without quotes). In the list we find our player. If necessary, use the update button.
Chrome Update
This browser is the best. In the latest modifications, absolutely all plugins in the browser are updated automatically. If for some reason there are failures, you can do this procedure yourself.
How to update the plugin in this situation? The process resembles an update in the Opera browser. In the address bar, we write chrome: // plugins, and in the list of installed plugins opposite the player, click the plus sign to display detailed information. If necessary, update the component. Please note: this browser supports the installation of several versions of the plugin at once. They may conflict with each other. Therefore, to work, you need to leave only the most recent modification, and turn off the rest (or better, completely remove it).
One last thing
Sometimes the update may not be performed automatically, and not all browsers warn that the plugin requires an update. But, for example, 360 Safety Browser gives such messages, and does not block the browser, but suggests launching the plug-in at this stage of visiting a web page (Run this time button).
If the players do not work after the update, first of all you need to check their status. Each browser has options like Always On or pointers to the status of the plugins (enabled or disabled). Even if the plugins are active, you can try to disable them, restart the browser, and then turn it on again.