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How to re-install Lync Web App plugin in a Mac OS

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Mac OS comes with Safari as its default browser, the same way that Windows comes with Internet Explorer. So, in order to re-install the Lync Web App plug-in (or any other plug-in) you will need to look in Safari’s preferences to find the name and location in order to remove it. Keep in mind that Mac OS is Unix based it will require the use of commands to accomplish this task. Follow these steps:

  1. Launch Safari.
  2. Then go to Help menu, select ‘Installed Plug-ins.’
  3. Safari will display a new web page with the lists all the plug-ins that are currently installed on your system.

 

In that window, check that the Lync Web App plug-in installed on Safari

 

Normally, the plug-in is actually installed in your home directory’s Library folder at ~/Library/Internet Plug-ins/. The tilde (~) indicates that this is a shortcut for your user account name. For example, if your user account name is Bill, the full pathname would be /Bill/Library/Internet Plug-ins. This location holds plug-ins that Safari only loads when you log in to your Mac. Now, this folder it’s normally hidden in order to protect its content, so the following two steps will make it visible:

 

  1. Launch Terminal, located at /Applications/Utilities (a quick shortcut is to type “terminal” in the search field in the upper right corner).

 

  1. Enter the following command at the Terminal prompt:

chflags nohidden ~/Library

 

 

 Once you can view the folder and its content, you can remove the plug-in. Use the Finder to search for the name of the plug-in (Microsoft Lync Web App Plug-in, x-lwa-nativeplugin15.8) go to the appropriate location and drag the file whose name matches the description entry in the Installed Plug-ins page to the Trash.

 

At this point, the plug-in has been removed and you are ready to re-launch the Lync meeting in order to trigger the new installation of the plug-in.

 

 

 

 

 

During the installation, you will be prompted to “Allow” the use and Access of this plug-in. This is to enable the use of the audio, video and app sharing from the browser.  Depending upon the configuration of the Lync environment, you might get the option to authenticate your internal user (if you are part of the Lync domain) or if you are an external guest.

 

 At this point, you should have all the capabilities provided by Lync Web App (Audio, Video, Application sharing, IM, etc.) from your MacBook.