This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

JavaScript disabled, cannot load or use Flash Player, what is the problem?

  • 4 replies
  • 18 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Akominatus

more options

Ever since installing the latest version of Firefox on my Mac (OS X 10.8.4), I cannot watch or download any Flash Player videos. Here is some of the background to the problem:

1. I have the Java Applet Plug-in Java 7 Update 25 installed and activated. 2. I also have NoScript 2.6.7.1 activated. If I am on a web page with Flash material I want to download, I do what I used to do with the previous version of Firefox, which is to click "Temporarily allow all this page" from the "Options" menu. 3. If I try to stream or download, I get the error message "To view this video, you need the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.", and a Download button. 4. The button takes me to the Flash Player page, where I am told "JavaScript is currently disabled in your browser and is required to download Flash Player." 5. In the "about"config" settings, Javascript.enabled is set to "default" and "true".

At this point, I am baffled. Can anybody please help?

Ever since installing the latest version of Firefox on my Mac (OS X 10.8.4), I cannot watch or download any Flash Player videos. Here is some of the background to the problem: 1. I have the Java Applet Plug-in Java 7 Update 25 installed and activated. 2. I also have NoScript 2.6.7.1 activated. If I am on a web page with Flash material I want to download, I do what I used to do with the previous version of Firefox, which is to click "Temporarily allow all this page" from the "Options" menu. 3. If I try to stream or download, I get the error message "To view this video, you need the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.", and a Download button. 4. The button takes me to the Flash Player page, where I am told "JavaScript is currently disabled in your browser and is required to download Flash Player." 5. In the "about"config" settings, Javascript.enabled is set to "default" and "true". At this point, I am baffled. Can anybody please help?

Chosen solution

My thanks to everyone who responded, The solution was in fact provided by FatMac on the Mac forums, and was unsettlingly simple; he suggested I download Flash from here , the Adobe Flash Player Distribution page, rather than from the Adobe download page which Firefox sends you to when you don't have the plugin. As far as I can tell, either that Adobe page is bugged and can't tell that JavaScript is actually turned on, or Firefox has a problem communicating the fact. In either case it's disconcerting.

Read this answer in context 👍 4

All Replies (4)

more options

Further background:

On first opening a page with an embedded video, I find the plug graphic and the message "A plugin is needed to display this content". Clicking on "install plugin", I get the message "No suitable plugins were found".

I don't remember any of this being a problem with earlier versions of Firefox.

more options

Make sure you have scripts enabled in Noscript too, as that is seperate.

more options

Does this page report that you need to enable JavaScript?

http://get2.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/

If so, could you try it in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to bypass interference by extensions (and some custom settings). More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

In the dialog, click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset)

Any difference?

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

more options

Chosen Solution

My thanks to everyone who responded, The solution was in fact provided by FatMac on the Mac forums, and was unsettlingly simple; he suggested I download Flash from here , the Adobe Flash Player Distribution page, rather than from the Adobe download page which Firefox sends you to when you don't have the plugin. As far as I can tell, either that Adobe page is bugged and can't tell that JavaScript is actually turned on, or Firefox has a problem communicating the fact. In either case it's disconcerting.