So, you want to watch a video in Youtube. You open your Google Chrome browser, heads over to Youtube, searches for the video and starts playing it… well not yet. Because you are greeted with the errors ‘Couldn’t load plug-in’, and ‘Could not load Shockwave Flash’ as seen below. Frustrating, it is. So, now what? You can try re-installing the browser, but that won’t fix the error. You will continue to get the same message.
Let’s see how we can fix this very easily. Yes, its very easy!
Before we start, there are two directions you can take – both will take you to the same location. I will describe both here, so you can decide which fits you better, or helps you to follow better.
The Long-and-Detailed Route
1. Click on the Customize button on the right-side on the menu bar to open up the list of options. Click on Settings.
2. A new tab will open up. Scroll down and click on Show Advanced Settings.
3. More options… Find the heading ‘Privacy’ and click on Content Settings.
4. The Content Settings dialog box shows up. Scroll down and find Plug-ins. Click on the hyperlink ‘Disable individual plug-ins.
5. Another tab comes up with the list of installed plug-ins.
Wait here for a second as I’m going to show you how to reach the same tab directly without all the above long steps.
The Short-and-Direct Route
1. Simply open a new tab and type the following in the address bar. chrome://plugins/.
Ok, so now we are here at the plug-ins tab, lets see who is the one causing the plug-in error which prevented us from watching videos in Chrome. The error did mention ‘Shockwave Flash’. So find the plug-in Adobe Flash Player – Shockwave Flash. You would find two versions of the same plug-in installed/enabled. But you need just one! Yes, only one is fine.
Click on Details to see more options for the plug-in. Now you see both the versions with a Disable option attached to each one.
Disable the one version that points to C:\Users\.. and keep the version pointing to the C:\Windows\.. enabled (As shown below).
Now, open a new tab/window, open Youtube and play a video. Voila! Enjoy!
Hope this helped you to save yourself the time to install another browser. Share your thoughts below.
Didn’t help. Only one version listed. Shockwave STILL won’t load.
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i only have one version too. PLZ HELP
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Hi Tim, can you tell me the path of the flash player shown there? Is it C:\Users… or C\Windows\…?
If its saying C:\Users…, then as Monkeyboner has mentioned below in the comment section, go to the folder “C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\PepperFlash\11.7.700.225” and delete the file “pepflashplayer.dll”. Restart Chrome.
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Is this different for a mac? I have one version only; the “details” look like this:
Adobe Flash Player – Version: 11.8.800.97
Shockwave Flash 11.8 r800
Name: Shockwave Flash
Description: Shockwave Flash 11.8 r800
Version: 11.8.800.97
Location: /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/28.0.1500.95/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlash/PepperFlashPlayer.plugin
Type: PPAPI (out-of-process)
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How do you delete the file? There is no delete button. There is nothing that says delete when I right-click. And nothing really happens when I click on the thing itself.
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For Mac, follow the long version, above, to get to the plug-ins. At the top of ALL of the plug-ins is a little plus sign. Click that first so that all details show. THEN look for Shockwave. I had two listed, and instead of a delete, I was able to “disable” one. I disabled the one associated specifically with Chrome. Seems to be fine now.
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Thanks, Amy. You “da” best. Sharon in Georgia
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thank-you sooo much!!! 🙂
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thanks; it really works!! simple, short and swift 🙂
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YES THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS RLY HELPS
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I get to C:\Users\username file but then no “AppData” there. Now What? I tried doing the disable thing with no success. I’ve been trying to fix this for an hour with no luck. Arrrrrrggghh
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Do %appdata% in the Start search bar.
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You disable the one that is in the location C:Users
Do not disable the one that says windows I just fixed mine now.
Lovin’ it!
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I’m with Judy, I have been having this problem and have tried this method twice, the second after “installing” the player. When it’s disabled, it says Adobe Flash Player is needed. What do I do now?
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Thank you! At first it didn’t help, but after deleting pepflashplayer.dll the problem is gone!
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I too have only one version and its in C:\ProgramFiles…..
What do i do?
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It works, and its better to uni-install the disable version
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Yes it does help me a lot! Thanks and be blessed!
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you must see the versions are same or not
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click details at the other right top side of the page
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Follow the stepsdescribed. Then go to the location of that pepflash’…dll file in C:/Users… and delete it manually. Go back to google plugins and re-enable the shockwave you just disabled. reload chrome.
It worked for me.
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Didn’t help. Only one version listed. Shockwave STILL won’t load.
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If you only have one version, download Adobe Flash Player again, then you should have two. Then disable one. I had to try both to figure out which one to disable.
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Great! fixed the issue perfectly!!!
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Totally worked. I had 2 versions. I disabled one and that was not the fix, I enabled it and disabled the other one and Voila! I can watch TV shows on the Mac again. Thanks
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I had the same problem. Try opening the task manager and stopping all background processes (the extensions) that have to do with chrome. It will say they crashed but don’t worry about it. after you do that, reopen chrome. This worked for me.
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If you have only one version, then disable it, and enable it back.
Good luck 🙂
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you may have accidently selected the wrong one as i was confused to. you must select “adobe flash player” instead of “adobe shockwave player” which has only got 1 version. so dont complain as you are the one wrong
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Same here. Only one version “c:\program files\google\chrome\…” shows up in plug-ins.
Also tried to reset and then re-install Chrome. No luck.
See that your post is more than 2 years old. Anyone know if Google has plans to fix this problem. I will have to return to Firefox or (gasp!) IE.
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Did you click on the little +/- sign in upper right (or left) hand corner to see details? I thought only one version until I clicked on this – then I could see both versions.
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I love you! I struggled with this, and then somehow it stopped. But then days ago it did it and this was the only solution that actually worked! THANK YOU!
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uhmph didnt help 😦
how sad
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Hi Skyler, what can you see when you open the Plug-ins list? Are there two Shockwave flash plug-ins or just one?
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😦 😦 pls help me so solve this problem .
someone who help me plss ?
😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦
hmm . pls help me
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TH\his is the solution if you only have one plugin.
First, browse as a guest and disable the only plugin. That solves the YouTube problem. Then, end the guest session and return to your normal user. Download adobe flash player even if you already have it, then follow the directions here.
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well it really solved my problem Thanks a lot….
This staement “”You would find two versions of the same plug-in installed/enabled. But you need just one! Yes, only one is fine”””
is very important. I found two versions of flash player enabled and on version of shockwave enabled. So i just disabled the the two version of flash player and voila everything working again 🙂 thanks again 🙂
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Thank you!
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Simple – the explanation made sense – and it worked!!! Thanks.
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I only have one file, not 2. Help..
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Hi Keegan, did you click in the + sign on the right up corner against the flash plug-in to open up the details. You should be able to see two adobe shockwave plug-ins each with a disable option.
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Hi i done every thing you said Up until Plugins there is only one shockwave flash and its in the program files folder Please help i got hacked by a remote admin tool and they stuffed my pc up i fixed every thing apart from this and windows installer gets disabled every 10 mins thanks in anvance
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C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\28.0.1500.72\PepperFlash\
thats where chrome plugins says it is and i go to that dir and windows cannot find this directory please help
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Ok I fix it i had to disable it and reinstall it easy as
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You may see one is Adobe Flash Player and the other one is Adobe Shockwave Player . Go Ahead disable the Adobe Flash Player and leave the other one. I did it to mine and it worked.
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great, simple but really help me.. thank you 🙂
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simple, but very helpful. thanks
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Amazing, thanks! Follow the instructions and you will be able to find the 2 versions , click on the + so see the them all.
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I ONLY HAVE 1 VERSION
DOESN’T WORK
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oh my gosh thank you so so much! I was getting really frustrated…
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I had to click “always allowed” on the second instance. then it worked!
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didn’t work for me. i pressed the + icon and only still see one version of Flash (the one that points to C:\users\…) I tried disabling that and now Chrome wants me to download Flash from the Adobe site. And when I try, i get a message that Chrome has Flash built in already and to just enable it in the Settings.!!!
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I found the solution.
Go to the folowing folder:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\PepperFlash\11.7.700.225
delete the file pepflashplayer.dll file
restart Chrome
voiila!
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Thank you monkeyboner, this solve the problem
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How do I delete the file pepflashplayer.dll file?
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Hey, I dont have “C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User”. Well I have C”\Users, but not the rest.
Where do you think I should look for??
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Hey Monkeyboner,
I dont have “C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User “. Well I mean, I have C:\Users, but not the rest. I checked all my folders in C: Users, but cant find AppData\Local\……
Where do you suggest I should look for??
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.
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For me it was C:\users\{username}\library\application data etc.
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it works buddy, thnxx !!
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I’m from Iran !
Thanks a lot !
or in Persian : دمت گرم !
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Thanx….now working like a charm…thanx a lot 🙂
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wonderful!!!! thanks
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The short and direct method worked for me, thanks!
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That was a Awesome Guide!
Thanks a million for savings multiple hours of frustration!!
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fantastic, it worked!!!
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yessssssssssssss
thank you so much
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Lotsa people already thanked you, but I think it’s never too much. So, thank you =]
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Followed your instructions step by step and now I am able to watch videos again – good start to a Sunday morning here in Dallas – thanks to you!
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Works! Thank you very much!
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thanks alot this really worked for me. Thanks again….
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thank youuuuu totally worked. YOU ARE AWESOME!!
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it works for me too! ty!!
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And Voila! Fixed : )
Thanks my friend, been annoyed by that for a week now and although I am now annoyed at just how easy that was to fix I am still grateful haha.
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didn’t help at all
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that’s sad… what can you see when you open the plug-ins page ? please give more details.
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Thanks! it helped
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Thank you SO much!!! The error had been driving me crazy & I’d tried many things, but this is the only one that worked!
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Wow, the error message gone with the wind
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Good info. It works for me.
Thanks Dude
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great help….thank you very much!
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Thanks a lot man. That solved my problem.
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Worked for me, thx. But I have another problem. All of a sudden, one day, no sound would play on any YouTube videos. If I download the video and play it, no problem, but none of my browsers will play any sound on YouTube. I just today finally got Chrome to play sound but both Firefox and iExporer are silent on YouTube videos!
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Hi, I don’t have two versions installed, and it the path isn’t taking me to C:\user, it’s taking me to C:\Program Files (x86). I don’t know if that is the same thing or not but i’m still having issues with my shockwave flash. I’m using windows 8.
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I have the same!
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It worked. Thanks a lot
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OMG! You r a genius!
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it worked thanks…………….guys if you dont have 2 versions its because on the plug in page you did not click on the details tab !!! click on it and you have 2
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Thanks it worked
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Great instructions and I like the second easy set. I found the 2 files and disabled the one.
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I did this about a week ago and it worked fine … but now it’s crashing again.!!
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I have only one version of adobe wat can i do now. If i click disable another option with C:/Users is not displaying. Can any of you find the problem of my solution.
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Sorted. Thanks.
As others have said, you need to cilck on the “Details” drop-down box in the top right-hand corner, after you get to the Plug-ins tab.
Then disable 1 of the 2 plug-ins as instructed above. Good luck.
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I have disable 1 of the 2 plug-ins as instructed, well I didn’t see the error message again but still I can’t play the video 😦
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nope didnt help. This fix helped before but no longer
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thanks it worked perfectly fine…
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Glad I found this. Chrome help was no help. Thanks!
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Hi guys. Can someone help help? I do have two files, but the locations are different from what you mentioned above. Which one should I disable? Thank you.
Name: Shockwave Flash
Description: Shockwave Flash 11.7 r700
Version: 11.7.700.225
Location: /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/27.0.1453.116/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlash/PepperFlashPlayer.plugin
Type: PPAPI (out-of-process)
Disable
MIME types:
MIME type Description File extensions
application/x-shockwave-flash Shockwave Flash
.swf
application/futuresplash FutureSplash Player
.spl
Name: Shockwave Flash
Description: Shockwave Flash 11.1 r102
Version: 11.1.102.64
Location: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin
Type: NPAPI
Disable
MIME types:
MIME type Description File extensions
application/x-shockwave-flash Shockwave Flash
.swf
application/futuresplash FutureSplash Player
.spl
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Hi! disable the first one – version 11.7 r700. and check again. Also, which OS are you using?
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urse
NOVEMBER 9, 2013 @ 9:09 PM
Hi….Thank u kindly for the fix er up er :)….I have 2 adobe flash player files, and other stuff like Native Client, and Chromes remote desktop viewer, as well as Adobe reader, and Photo gallery stuff….Could that be a reason y I’m always crashing, and not responding, and all that good stuff? and….if possible….can u tell me if I need all that other stuff, or can I delete them as well. Thank u in advance 🙂 I didn’t know how to email u, so I clicked reply, I’m sorry.
0 0 Rate This
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thanx this really helped out i will recomend this site
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thx dude! it worked!
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thx
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Worked 🙂 Thank youu x
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excellent blogpost, problem solved
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thanks buddy helped me a lot
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THANK YOU!!!
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Thank you!!
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Thanks a bunch. Come and see us at http://www.kjmckinnon.com
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Thankyou so much! You really made my day! ❤
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Thanks !!!
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Thank you thank you Thank you thank you!!!!
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Nice one! It worked for me. Thanks.
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Thanks a lot!
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This didn’t work for me because I only had 1 plugin in the list.
I just disabled the plugin and it now works (You did tell us to). This is because I have Flash already installed, while Chrome was trying to use it’s built-in Flash Plugin.
I hope this helps some people.
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ERES UN GENIO! Una consultita /como se instaló la otra version?
Gracias mil.
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Excellent got mine working with your short instructions. 😉
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I have just clicked on the refresh button and shockwave flash works.
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What great help! Thank you for such a concise solution, much appreciated!
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Thank you. The second option helped me 🙂
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If you’re using Ubuntu, the one pointing to /opt/google/chrome/PepperFlash/libpepflashplayer.so is the one you should disable.
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sorry this did not work
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Thanks for the very clear instructions! It worked!
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Thanks! I appreciate your help, it worked!
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I only had one version. I disabled it, reloaded my page and it worked!!!! Thanks 🙂
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It worked, thanks a lot! But what caused it to stop working in the first place?
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Thanks so much!
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It worked !! A big Thank You !! 😀
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It works ..thank you very much…..:-)
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!!! I installed the new version and it wouldn’t let me watch anything and then i found this website and it saved my day 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you! Worked fabulous!! However, my options were C:\programfiles or C:\windows. I disabled the “program files” option and viola! 🙂
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it’ working, you are genius
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Thank you
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I simply followed your instructions on ‘The Short-and-Direct Route’ and I could play games on FB again. Thank you.♥
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thank you
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THANKS
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THANK YOU SO MUCH! I followed this step by step and I didn’t have any trouble! Thank you!
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Hi guys,
I disabled the pepperflash one as mentioned in the tutorial above.
The message went away and Youtube videos are working again but I cannot go beyond 360p.
Could someone please help me?
Thank you in advance!
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Hi,
I disabled the one that points to C:\\Users and youtube videos work again but I cannot view any quality above 360p.
Someone please help me!
Thank you!
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Thanks it works for me.
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this did not work for my proble could not load shockwave flash what do you suggest I do
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Awesome!! Thanks, worked just fine! Not sure however how this happened in the first place but definitely glad for it to be resolved!!
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Thanks for a great blog….
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thank its working fine
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You are the best …. It worked like magic…
Thanks for your help.
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Thanks a lot! it worked!! 🙂
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This worked for me but there weren’t 2 listed. There was ‘Adobe Shockwave’ and ‘Adobe Flash Player’. I disabled Flash Player. Next time I opened a site I got a message that I needed to update Shockwave. Did that and now it works. Love the super simple and funny way you explained what to do. Thanks!!!
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didn’t work. It said I needed to update Adobe Shockwave Player, and whenever I did it told me “Could not Load Shockwave for Director”. D’you know whaaaaat that means??????????
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Thanks it worked
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Thanks 🙂
it worked.. initially i found only one but I used Find(search) for “Shock” I found other instances and just disabled them to get it working good…
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i have Adobe Shock wave for Director Netscape and Adobe Flash Player – Version: 11.9.900.117
Shock wave Flash 11.9 r900 my shock wave does not say c/user or c/ windows it says c/ programs but my director shock wave says c/ windows do i need the director shock wave and is it the problem?
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Hi….Thank u kindly for the fix er up er :)….I have 2 adobe flash player files, and other stuff like Native Client, and Chromes remote desktop viewer, as well as Adobe reader, and Photo gallery stuff….Could that be a reason y I’m always crashing, and not responding, and all that good stuff? and….if possible….can u tell me if I need all that other stuff, or can I delete them as well. Thank u in advance 🙂
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Thanks mate! Worked perfectly! 😀
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thanks it worked…!!!! 🙂
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Worked for me… Thanks!
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Worked! Thank you.
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Yes, okay… Interesting to give this a try….(Especially since I am not on Windows right now, but on linux Lucid 10.04 11.2 r202. Since no flash has worked yet and I am just configuring this today not much to lose…is there? Okay ready?
So far Words”” hasn’t loaded yet so i tried youtube and it reads that:You need to upgrade your Adobe Flash Player, the one I just disabled. (It wasn’t working anyhow) I think I need a certain flash player to work with older AMD’s One I know before had security issues, yet I had to use it anyway. Okay I just checked my Movie Player I think it is Totem and it still cannot identify the flv stream that I am attempting. Batting O.00!! Now What!!
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All right at this time I am working with installing Totem….
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Looks like Totem was there “already the newest version” There were however two sets of older headers that I was able to remove..cont..
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Still a problem with installing VLC as well and—that one I actually like. It looks like I found some newer plug-ins at the g-streamer home page.. but I may have to compile the file?? dk yet.
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Thank you. Fixed my problem! However, I had to randomly choose which version to disable because mine weren’t labeled the same as yours. Luckily, I realized you could enable it again and choose the other one if you selected the wrong one.
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If I go to the file where the PepperFlash is there is no delete button or anything how do I delete it please please please please please help I have not been able to do crap for like a week.
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I’VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT FOR FOREVER! THANK YOU SO MUCH! YAY FOR BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO YOUTUBE AGAIN!
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I have 3 versions… the “bad” one is already disabled. I have two versions in c:\\Windows etc. 😦 Should I disable one of those? No App or Library under my username, I’m doing a search for that dll file…
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Amazing Awesome Thank You worked
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I am on mac. Thank you. It was helpful.
Just a note : In the latest version of chrome the + / – i.e. Expand / Collapse button is at the top hand right side of the /plugins page instead next to each plugin.
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If you’re running Google Chrome on Mac, disable the one that points to /Applications and keep the one that points to /Library.
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When I clicked on the link the little picture of the shockwave plug-in thing just showed up 😦 Sorry, but this didn’t help me what-so-ever :”( Pls help me with this!!
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Same thing happened to ME!!!! pls help me… us… everyone who has the same problem!
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Thank you very, very much. I can now listen to Radio 4 live! I love you 🙂
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THANK YOU!! This worked for me!
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awesome thx
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This doesn’t seem to work on Mac. I really wish I could post a screen shot, but mine does NOT have a “details” button. I cannot expand or see both files. There is no way to click on them. This is all I see:
Adobe Flash Player (2 files) – Version: 11.9.900.170
Shockwave Flash 11.9 r900
Name: Shockwave Flash
Description: Shockwave Flash 11.9 r900
Version: 11.9.900.170
Location: /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Versions/31.0.1650.63/Google Chrome Framework.framework/Internet Plug-Ins/PepperFlash/PepperFlashPlayer.plugin
Type: PPAPI (out-of-process)
Disable
MIME types:
MIME type Description File extensions
application/x-shockwave-flash Shockwave Flash
.swf
application/futuresplash FutureSplash Player
.spl
Name: Shockwave Flash
Description: Shockwave Flash 11.9 r900
Version: 11.9.900.170
Location: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin
Type: NPAPI
Disable
MIME types:
MIME type Description File extensions
application/x-shockwave-flash Shockwave Flash
.swf
application/futuresplash FutureSplash Player
.spl
Disable Always allowed
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just followed short way on mac. Thanks It works!
(“details” button on top right of page.)
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Thank you so much! I can finally watch youtube videos again!
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Actually… Best way to watch the videos is – copy the link to mozilla firefox!
Why? Because disabling the Shockwave plugin version you might not be able watch local videos in your comp with eg VLC player because it gets you error “Missing driver …” – reenable Shockwave plugin back and copy online video URL into Firefox and you’re back on the road again
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Hello, first of all