How to update Flash Player

Adobe Flash is an essential component to watch video on the web. It’s not perfect – it can cause browser crashes and sometimes leave your computer vulnerable to attack – but one particularly common problem is with updating it or knowing which version of Flash you are currently running.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to check which version of Flash you are using, how to update it, and how to change your update settings if necessary.

1. Firstly, if you’re having problems installing Flash Player, make sure you read Adobe’s comprehensive guide to installing Flash whichever browser you are using. This guide will automatically detect which version of Flash you are currently using and display it dynamically:

2. If your version of Adobe Flash is out of date, you should receive the message below. Clicking “Install” will automatically update you to the latest version.

3. If you don’t receive the above message, it’s because you haven’t got auto-updating activated. You can activate it by changing your Flash settings (note that the settings panel you see when you click this link is not a screenshot – it’s a dynamically updated window of the Flash settings on your computer which you can adjust accordingly).

If you have any further doubts or problems updating Adobe Flash, check the Adobe Flash Update page.

Related Stories

The Webs favorite animation and video player – Flash Player review

3 Easy ways to make Flash animations for beginners

How to: Download Flash games and play them offline