How to Temporarily disable flash player in web browsers

It can be useful for web developers to temporarily disable flash to test how a page will look if a viewer has chosen to disable this type of content.

Also, as many websites insist on prompting the user to install flash to view their content it is sometimes preferable to simply disable (rather than uninstall) flash if it is not required.

In Internet Explorer 7 and above:

1. Run Internet Explorer
2. Go to Tools » Manage Add-ons
3. Select the Flash add-on (Shockwave Flash Object) and click Disable
   Note: If Flash is not available from the list, first select All add-ons from the show dropdown menu.
4. Close the dialog box
5. Hit F5 (refresh)

Note: IE may require a restart.

In Internet Explorer 6:

1. Run Internet Explorer
2. Go to Tools » Manage Add-ons...
3. Select the Flash add-on (Shockwave Flash Object) and click Disable
   Note: If Flash is not available from the list, first select Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer from the showdropdown menu.
4. Close the dialog box
5. Hit F5 (refresh)

Note: IE may require a restart.

In Firefox:

Firefox does not seem to have a simple method of disabling flash content without the use of extensions (third-party software):

• Adblock Plus is a useful plug-in for blocking ads and banners and is good way to block unwanted content in Firefox.
• Flashblock is a plug-in that is more appropriate to blocking flash content and when installed will replace it with a button that can be clicked to view the content.

Unfortunately, both of these solutions block the entire content from the page rather than just disabling the .swf file and allowing any additional html content contained within the object (which is what a viewer would be able to see if flash was not installed).

In Opera:

1. Run Opera
2. Press F12
3. Uncheck Enable plug-ins
4. Close the dialog box
5. Hit F5 (refresh)

Note: As well as disabling all flash content, this will also disable any other third-party software that is being used on the page.

In Safari:

1. Run Safari
2. Go to Preferences » Security
3. Uncheck Enable plug-ins
4. Close the dialog box
5. Hit F5 (refresh)

Note: As well as disabling all flash content, this will also disable any other third-party software that is being used on the page.