Removing all of Adobe Flashplayer

Hi GailGorud,

Please check this link in Answers Forum https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/end-of-support-for-adobe-flash-player/db74cf32-935f-4675-a61d-c82d3697ba97

where there's a nice video by Microsoft Community member and MVP Susan Bradley and also useful related links.

Adobe Flash Player is only a security risk when you use it to play Flash content on the internet. However, by default, no web browser will play Flash content any longer, and no responsible website hosts it. And in any case, you have uninstalled Adobe Flash Player, so your web browsers can't play Flash content even if they wanted to. There is nothing more that you need to do. You're safe.

The Flash player that has been part of Windows for years is for application software that includes Flash content. It doesn't go out to the internet. However, application software hasn't included Flash content for years. So you're safe. Eventually, Microsoft might remove its Flash player (likely as part of an update) but there's no urgency because the Flash Player doesn't pose a threat.

I have two really old games - a bowling game and a road racing game - that have Flash content. Real old school, but they're fun. These games are standalone, they don't go out to the internet. So I can enjoy my guilty pleasures with confidence.

Run Microsoft KB4577586 (Update for Removal of Adobe Flash Player for Windows) for your OS version.   Get the KB from https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/search.aspx?q=4577586 - select the option that matches your OS version, download and run. 

After running the update, browse to https://www.whatismybrowser.com/detect/is-flash-installed to verify Flash has been removed.

Hi GailGorud -

I'm Kevin B. Independent advisor and a Windows user like you. I do apologize for the inconvenience that you experiencing right now, let me help you sort things out.

What specific error message shows when you try to delete the files of Adobe?

Some files can't be deleted especially if some applications like browsers uses the adobe flash or if a certain service is using it.

To ensure that services are not running during deletion, please boot your computer in safemode. Safemode is a windows environment used to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair corrupted windows system files. While computer is in safemode, no 3rd party application will run, not even your anti-virus, and selected services needed by windows to boot are the only running service on the computer. This ensures us that the computer will only use applications and services at a minimal level to avoid 3rd party conflicting application and services.

Please click on the link below and follow the steps on how to boot your computer in safemode.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sta...

Once in safemode, please try and delete the files that you're trying to delete.

Hope this will help and have a bless day!

Thanks.

Kevin B.

Independent advisor

• Have you rebooted since uninstalling Flash Player ?

Regarding your browser. Have you also deleted the Flash and Shockwave Player browser extensions from your browser ?

(In Firefox this would be found in - Tools > Options > Extensions or Plugins )

• If Flash Player has been uninstalled there is no more vulnerability. Malware\virus need an executable file to install themselves.

The only way Flash player would be a security issue when still installed is if it were to become infected and used by a game or other media

that uses Flash player. This would not be possible from a few random stray files left after uninstalling Flash Player.

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