Flash player keeps crashing or constantly asking for permission
Hi all,
I have the latest Firefox (64bit), and also the latest Flash player.
A few days ago, sites that use Flash started doing one of two things: 1) message saying 'please activate flash to play', or 2) Adobe Flash plugin has crashed, with options to send crash report and/or reload.
If I reload or refresh, nothing changes, one of teh two things above just continually happen. The same sites works fine in Chrome, so I am pretty sure it's a FF/flash add-in issue.
And, I should mention, all flash sites worked perfectly fine until a few days ago, and I haven't made any system changes at that time that could have broken something.
What I have tried: - Disabled/re-enabled flash add-in via FF - Fully uninstalled the flash player from Windows itself (tried both via control panel, and also as per the flash player uninstall tool/instructions from Adobe) - Cleared all cache/stored data from all browsers - Tried changing the add-in setting from 'Ask to activate', to 'always activate' (but, i still get either the crash, or the please activate message even when this is set to always activate. - Tried turning off the 'block dangerous content' settting. - Made sure my graphics driver is the latest - Did a full virus scan, just in case - I use Comodo firewall, but have tried disabling this, no change.
Some support pages suggest turning off hardware acceleration. But to do this, I have to right-click within a flash page to access the settings. I cann;t do that as flash pages never load as per above. Ironically, even the Adobe flash player test page itself, also crashes or asks to activate.
I'm now out of ideas. Any suggestions?
Win 10, 64bit, fully updated. No major system changed made immediately before this happened.
Thank in advance for any help.
All Replies (8)
Adding some sample screenshots that may help
Modified by Chikara
Did you try Firefox Safe Mode in case an extension is causing this problem?
When the Shockwave Flash plugin is set to "Always Activate" then you shouldn't get a dialog asking for permission to use the plugin.
If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block (wanted) content (e.g. Adblock Plus, NoScript, Ghostery, uBlock Origin) make sure such extensions do not block (wanted) content or otherwise interfere.
- make sure your extensions and filters are updated to the latest version
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems
Hi,
I tried safe mode, but then realised flash player doesn't load in safe mode so it didn't really help with any testing.
yes, i know that it shouldn't ask for permission to use the plug-in, but somehow it still does (either ask, or it just crashed) so I am wondering if something is corrupted somewhere.
And yes I have already deactivated other extensions to try, but I only have two (lastpass, and ad block), which never caused a problem in the past. And finally, yes, all extensions are the most up to date...
Plugins aren't affected by Safe Mode and Flash should work the same in Safe Mode as in regular mode.
I did try safe mode already, but what happens is that any flash enabled pages say I don't have flash player installed So I assumed it disabled that add-in, as well as any extensions.
But, I did try it already anyway - If I try to install it again in safe mode, it never works - i download and run the flash installer, it tells me to close Firefox to finish the installation. But even if I close Firefox, the installation never completes, it still says Firefox is running - even if there are no active firefox sessions showing even in Task Manager. So the installation always aborts and never can complete.
You can create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support to see if that has effect in case security software is causing problems.
well, some small progress but it's not solved yet.
I tried the various options for removing profiles, but nothing changed.
But if I try safe mode with networking, it does seem that the flash based sites work OK without problems.
So the next step is - what exactly is running in normal mode, that is not running in safe mode, that causes it? I have already tried disabling (but not fully installing) my firewall (Comodo), and my Anti Virus (NOD ESET). and it didn't solve it. Windows defender is turned off. I only use the Comodo firewall feature, not the Anti Virus.
Should I be looking at other software too as possible culprits?
I would be surprised is ESET or Comodo were causing the problems as I have been using both of them for years.
ok, with a bit of trial and error, I have found out the conflict was caused somehow by Comodo firewall. Disabling it alone did not do anything, but it I fully uninstalled it, my problem was fixed. So, somehow something must have changed in Comodo to cause this, as I have been using it for years. I had a look at the Comodo forums and I can't see anyone else having the same problem. I tried a clean install of Comodo again but the problem returned.
So, in the short term the Firefox / flash problem is fixed :)
I know the next question is not really in scope here in a Firefox forum - but if anyone has any knowledge of why Comodo caused this and how to avoid it, i'd love to hear. Or alternatively, a free firewall that has similar features - specifically I like to have individual control over apps, including the ability to block/allow them by HTTP/FTP also. Comodo used to do that perfectly.