How to remove the built-in version of Flash in Win10 and 8.1

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An interesting contribution from @ch100: Warning!!! Only for advanced users and for those accepting a certain degree of risk if they don’t understand
[See the full post at: How to remove the built-in version of Flash in Win10 and 8.1]

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Elly, AlexEiffel, Kirsty, ch100, PhotM

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Note: I’d highly recommend that you make an image of your system first!

Thanks ch100 nice work! A couple of things that concern me about this is:

1. Why not just block flash from being used in both W8.1 and W10 and be done with it?

2. When using SFC /scannow, won’t it flag up that the system file integrity is violated due to missing flash components and then to repair a system, won’t it just re-introduce the missing flash for W8.1 or W10?

No doubt this will be yet another mundane task to repeat once a W10 ‘Feature Upgrade’ is installed.

I’ve always had flash disabled and blocked from use on our W8.1 systems (I’ve never used Macromedia/ Adobe Flash since around 2004) which blocks fine, it may be redundant on our systems but I know the system integrity is good.

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Steve, AlexEiffel, ch100, GreatAndPowerfulTech

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Thank you @Microfix.
For most users who don’t want to go the extra mile to completely remove Adobe Flash, but at the same time do not want to use it, disabling/blocking in IE and Edge should be enough. However, it is highly recommended to keep Adobe Flash patched every time when an update is released by Microsoft.
Removing it completely has the additional benefit of not receiving the Adobe Flash patch at all on Windows 8.1/10 and the servers equivalent versions if it was installed on the servers by mistake or pure curiosity.
A new Feature Upgrade will more than likely bring it back, although I know that there are plans at Microsoft to discontinue including Flash soon, in line with other major players in the industry.
sfc /scannow would not bring it back, because this procedure is as clean as removing any other CBS piece, like for example those under Turn Windows features on or off.
It is an alternative procedure for those who requested such a procedure and I posted it because there is a lot of disinformation on the internet in most cases by changing file permissions by taking ownership of specific files under C:\Windows\system32\Macromed and C:\Windows\SYSWOW64\Macromed and deleting them manually. Such procedure is definitely wrong and would likely bring those files back during a repair performed with sfc /scannow

It should not be seen as a recommendation from Woody, but rather an alternative procedure for those who are interested to try it.
I am not going to argue with Susan, because for most users, even most power users and experts, her recommendation stands true.

I am sure that @abbodi86 would like it, although he does not have to read this post to perform it 🙂

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Microfix, abbodi86, AlexEiffel

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Obviously this is much better than deleting Flash from Windows directory like I was planning to do sometime. 😉

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This was posted exactly for the type of users like you, although my preference would be to reply to a non-anonymous poster. 🙂 See my post in reply to @Microfix for details.

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Yeah fortunately it was worth thinking before acting to not disintegrate it from Windows like that, so I’ll do your sound procedure. Thank you for researching the minutia of removal and documenting the process. The mind is boggled at how such a small portion of compiled software can have so many problems.

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Should have been done ages ago by MS. Instead of bundling the utter junk with the OS.

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Thanks @ch100

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ch100

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How about removing it from Windows 7? How is that different from what it is in those later versions of Windows?

I’d thought that uninstalling it from the Control Panel was enough.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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@OscarCP, this thread does not concern Windows 7 but, to answer your query:
Windows 7 doesn’t have Adobe Flash embedded into the operating system, the end-user needs to install it via adobe website initially.
To remove Adobe flash from Windows 7 is via ‘programs and features’ within the control panel and probably by the ‘Adobe flash uninstaller’ if unsuccessful by conventional system methods.
[Back on topic please]

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Elly, ch100, OscarCP

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And repeat all 6 months the same procedure als last half year James – yess Miss Sophie, same procedure as every half year?

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I would not be removing packages.  You can block the use of flash through much safer means.

https://www.howtogeek.com/222275/how-to-uninstall-and-disable-flash-in-every-web-browser  You want to block in the browser.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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JohnW, Klaas Vaak, ch100, satrow, Microfix

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Susan, this is safe if performed correctly, but require a bit of knowledge and understanding of the CBS helps in assessing the procedure.
A potential downside is that bringing Flash back in IE or Edge, require reinstalling the OS in place.
But this is not the case for example if the preferred browser is Firefox where Flash add-on is installed as a regular software.
I believe Chrome has already discontinued the use of Adobe Flash and Microsoft will follow suit soon.
The leader in this matter is obviously Apple.

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ch100 wrote:

I believe Chrome has already discontinued the use of Adobe Flash and Microsoft will follow suit soon.
The leader in this matter is obviously Apple.

Flash won’t disappear from Chrome, Edge or IE until it dies completely at the end of 2020:

Saying goodbye to Flash in Chrome

The End of an Era – Next Steps for Adobe Flash [in Edge/IE]

Flash & The Future of Interactive Content [EOL plan from Adobe]

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Two different references, confused by a common name.

ch100 spoke of Chrome (OS) in a comparison with Microsoft and Apple. He might have said Alphabet or Google as he did not say Windows and iOS.

b then spoke of Chrome (browser) in a comparison with Edge and IE(11), without reference to Safari.

Getting flash out of the operating system is a good thing. Even though browsers may still require it to handle requested content. When the content no longer requires flash and can be consumed with HTML5 or some other new standard, then we can finally be rid of flash.

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b

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Why should we keep the packages, what perceived or actual harm would occur?

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In the past six years, as a Microsoft Partner, I’ve grown to expect them to randomly undo user tweaks. My five year old Chromebook still works perfectly with none of the nonsense that Steve Sinofsky injected into Windows 8. It will be interesting to see if the next forced update to 1809 will undo the Flash changes made by users.

GreatAndPowerfulTech

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GreatAndPowerfulTech wrote:

It will be interesting to see if the next forced update to 1809 will undo the Flash changes made by users.

It is likely that 1809 will undo this procedure, which is simple enough to be performed once every 6 months. 🙂 There is a good chance though that 1809 is the last Windows 10 OS update supporting Flash natively, unless Microsoft is under contract obligation with Adobe to support it a little bit longer.

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Let’s hope so. Flash needs to become extinct. Problem is those who are holding onto it and not upgrading their software to run with HTML5.

Group A | Windows 7 Pro 64-bit | Windows 10 Pro 1809 64-bit

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Steve

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It was the same with Java RE. It is virtually dead today for use over the internet, although it has a place and purpose on internal business networks.

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JSTechGeek, Microfix

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Java is a pain too! I have a few old versions for just in case I need to get into say a printer with a jetdirect card.

Group A | Windows 7 Pro 64-bit | Windows 10 Pro 1809 64-bit

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I’ve taken 3 three actions to disable Flash in Windows 8.1/IE (no Edge):

1) Renamed the Flash folder in C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\ (e.g., YYY_Flash)
2) Renamed the Flash folder in C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\ (e.g., ZZZZ_Flash)
3) From gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor), changed the the Turn off Adobe Flash in Internet Explorer and prevent applications from using Internet Explorer to instantiate Flash objects setting from Not Configured to Enabled, per https://borncity.com/win/2018/02/02/how-to-disable-adobe-flash-player-in-windows-8-8-1-10/

The first two actions are sufficient to cause a Windows Update error code 800F0922 attempting to install the usual Security Update for Adobe Flash Player for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems, so if you do rename folders, yet want to stay current, you have to remember to rename both folders back to “Flash”, apply the Windows update for Adobe, then rename back to whatever_Flash.

See https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8376-enable-disable-adobe-flash-player-microsoft-edge-windows-10-a.html for the equivalent Group Policy change for Edge – looks like the setting is named Allow Adobe Flash in Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge.

I am also a little hesitant to rip Flash out of the innards of Windows if I can truly and effectively disable it.

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Except for the Group Policy, everything else is wrong!

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Just to clarify, Flash for IE is managed by the Group Policy; a setting of Enabled disallows the Enable/Disable options for the Shockwave Flash Object in IE under Tools > Manage add-ons (you might have to select All add-ons in the Show box to see it).

I reconfirmed the error code 800F0922 from Windows Update > View update history, but this was from 2017. Perhaps the error code has changed? I really don’t spend any time on updating Flash since it will eventually be extinct.

Renaming the Flash folders seemed easier than deleting the folders (see https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1410045) or messing with the Flash.ocx files (See https://lasthussar.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/how-to-solve-missing-flash-ocx-the-simple-way/) and seemed like an ideal chokepoint (see the the Adobe Flash Player Administration Guide at https://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/flash_player_admin_guide.html).

If this is wrong, please explain why.

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Step 6. You’re done. No more Adobe Flash in registry and…

Wow! Really?

I cleaned my machine for everything Adobe years ago and remember it was like removing root kits… tons and tons of registry entries.

Nice guide!

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ch100

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Looking at the amount of COM class identification serials for .NET and other software looks the same way.

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This procedure is of interest to those who don’t want to waste time with Adobe Flash security updating — there seems to be Flash package every month for this — when Flash isn’t being used any longer (IE uninstalled, Edge unused).  The procedure is clear, and worked without error.  An SFC /SCANNOW check afterwards did not show any integrity problems, so perhaps this Flash removal is permanent through monthly Win updates and Win 10 version upgrades.  Thanks for the post.

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Thanks woody.
Can this method be used for LTSC 2019 or 1809 to delete built-in Flash? It seems not work.

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I think it works in the same way with the Server 2019, but I could not find a reliable way to do the same on Windows 10 1809.

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