Plugins

Legacy web browser addons

— I no longer develop this legacy resource —

Adobe Reader | Flash | Java | QuickTime | RealPlayer

All trademarks, company names or logos are the property of their respective owners.

Plugins are legacy applications once required to view and hear multimedia content on the Web. Unlike extensions, which are installed in your browser, plugins provided support and access to external "helper" applications installed on your computer.

Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash and Java are together responsible for two thirds of the vulnerabilities in Windows systems exploited by malware.
— AV-TEST

Plugins Should Be Uninstalled

Plugins should be removed by everyone. Because they have extensive security vulnerabilities, plugins are blocked by modern browsers.

VLC Player is recommended for playing offline multimedia content and most browsers display PDFs natively.

What Happened?

As people began to use mobile devices for accessing the Internet they wanted the same multimedia experience that was available on computers. Modern browsers can safely and natively display that content with the web technologies included with HTML5, including on mobile devices. The reign of plugins has ended.

Java and Flash are two technologies that have powered Pogo games for many years, but they're no longer supported by most web browsers. Because of this, we're retiring Flash-based games from Pogo.

We're continuing to update our most popular games to HTML5. We've improved graphics, performance, and accessibility whether you're using your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
— Pogo.com

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Adobe Reader

Acrobat logo

PDF is a format invented by Adobe that allows files to be viewed anywhere with the proper fonts regardless of the software it was created with. Traditionally, Adobe Reader provided access to online PDFs using a plugin.

Adobe Reader has been flagged as a security vulnerability. Many computers have obsolete (unsafe) versions installed. Any version of Adobe Reader, Adobe Acrobat or any PDF software prior to the most recent version should be updated or uninstalled.

Browsers Natively Display PDF Documents

Modern browsers can now display PDF documents natively without plugins. Microsoft Edge is set as the default Windows viewer for PDFs, but you can change that:

Click on Start ⇒ Settings ⇒ Apps ⇒ Default apps
Scroll down and click on choose default applications by file type.
Wait for the options to load, then scroll down to .PDF and change the default option there.

Interactive Features

Current versions of Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome also allow you to fill in interactive PDF forms before you save or print them. If your browser doesn't natively support the features you need, open the document in an external PDF viewer.

Even though browsers have built-in capabilities, dedicated PDF readers like Adobe Reader or other PDF readers usually have more features than your browser can provide.

Professional Software

Professional PDF software like Adobe Acrobat and Able2Extract Pro add comprehensive editing capabilities.

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Adobe Flash Player

FlashPlayer logo

Adobe Flash Player reached its end-of-life on December 31, 2020 and is no longer supported. You should uninstall Flash Player. Flash content has been replaced with native HTML5 technology.

Uninstalling Flash

Flash Player may remain on your system unless you uninstall it. Uninstalling Flash Player will help secure your system since Adobe will not issue Flash Player updates or security patches after the EOL Date.
— Adobe

KB4577586 uninstalls Flash Player for Windows 10.
Uninstall Flash Player for Windows.
Uninstall Flash Player for Mac OS.

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Shockwave Player

Shockwave logo

Shockwave Player reached its end-of-life on April 9, 2019 and is no longer supported. You should uninstall Shockwave Player.

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Java

Download Java | What is Java? | Troubleshooting Tips | More about Java

Java Unsupported in Modern Browsers

Java is free for personal use but most browsers ended support with Java SE 8. Java plugins are now either unsupported or blocked by most browsers.

Out-of-date versions of Java on your computer may present a serious security risk.
— Java.com

If installed, be sure to frequently update Java. Ensure you remove older versions (you may need to manually remove these).

You should uninstall Java because it is no longer supported and makes your computer vulnerable.

Most sites and applications have moved to native HTML5 technology.
Using legacy browsers in order to enable Java puts your computer at risk.

Java Usually Unnecessary

Java no longer runs in modern browsers and is no longer necessary for most people.

Remove Java if you don't need it (most people don't). By uninstalling Java you can determine if you need it. If you find you require Java, it can be quickly reinstalled.

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QuickTime

QuickTime logo

Uninstall QuickTime for Windows

QuickTime 7 for Windows is no longer supported by Apple and contains dangerous vulnerabilities. It should be uninstalled.

New versions of Windows since 2009 have included support for the key media formats, such as H.264 and AAC, that QuickTime 7 enabled. All current Windows web browsers support video without the need for browser plug-ins.
— Apple Support

QuickTime for Mac

QuickTime is supported for macOS and iOS. Update to the latest version or uninstall it (saving your QuickTime Pro registration key before uninstalling).

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RealPlayer

RealPlayer logo

Uninstall RealPlayer

You should uninstall RealPlayer.

RealPlayer plugin has been flagged as unsafe by Firefox and Chrome.
RealPlayer has a shady history of spyware and nag screens.

In the 1990s, RealPlayer was a fundamentally ambitious piece of software. It set the groundwork for how we would come to consume media, and in many respects, we owe it a massive debt of gratitude. But it was also a fundamentally flawed piece of software, whose execution didn't quite do its lofty goals justice.

20 years later, little has changed. The ambition behind RealPlayer is still there, but this time round, it feels much less focused. Rather than do one thing badly, RealPlayer does many things badly.— Make Use Of

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