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Flash doesn't work in Firefox?

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  • 57 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I installed the Flash Player 11.3 update, and now everything that uses flash shows up as a black screen. It works in chrome and safari however. I tried some article and discussion solutions, but none of them worked. & I don't have a realplayer plugin to disable. Could someone help me fix this?

I installed the Flash Player 11.3 update, and now everything that uses flash shows up as a black screen. It works in chrome and safari however. I tried some article and discussion solutions, but none of them worked. & I don't have a realplayer plugin to disable. Could someone help me fix this?

Chosen solution

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

Try to disable hardware acceleration.

If disabling hardware acceleration works then check if there is an update available for your graphics display driver.


Try to "disable the hardware acceleration" in the Flash Player.

See also:

Flash "Display settings" window:

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See --> https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/flash-crashes-or-does-not-load-firefox-13

If the suggestions in the above do not resolve your problem, read the following...

There are 2 versions of Adobe Flash:

  • an ActiveX version for IE only
  • a Plugin version for most other browsers including Firefox
    • IMPORTANT: Firefox requires the 32-bit version of Flash even if installed on a 64-bit OS -- See NOTE: below
  • On a Windows system, you should always update both individually.

If you do not see, in Add-ons > Plugins > "Shockwave Flash (version)" in Firefox, then you do not have the 32-bit Plugin version of Flash installed for Firefox. If "Shockwave Flash" is there and is disabled, click the "Enable" button.

Check your Plugins often --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

  • only the most popular/used Plugins are known by this page
  • page will detect only installed, enabled Plugins

Install or update Adobe Flash

  1. Using Firefox, go to the following link and SAVE the download to your desktop so you can find it later. Un-check any items on that page that you do not want to download (i.e., "McAfee Security Scan Plus":
  2. When the download is finished, close Firefox (File > Exit OR Firefox button > Exit)
  3. Click or double-click on the file you just saved to your desktop
    • In the installation window that appears, click the box to the left of "I have read and...." to place a check mark in the box
    • The "Install" button in the lower right corner will now be highlighted, click it.
    • The installation is quick.
  4. Start Firefox and test your installation here: https://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
  5. To update/install the ActiveX version for IE only, repeat the process, but use IE to go to the above website.


NOTE: Some users of 64-bit systems have found it necessary to download, Save and install (with Firefox closed) the 32-bit Plugin for Firefox manually from the following (4th link labeled "32 bit Flash Player Plug-in (All other browsers)"):


If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.

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Sorry none of those worked. As I said, I can use flash perfectly fine in other browsers. Just not FF.

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Chosen Solution

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

Try to disable hardware acceleration.

If disabling hardware acceleration works then check if there is an update available for your graphics display driver.


Try to "disable the hardware acceleration" in the Flash Player.

See also:

Flash "Display settings" window: