We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Using firefox 35.0.1; option ‘Ask to activate’ is permanently greyed for flash 16 add-on.

debbi826
debbi826
more options

I'm trying to change Shockwave Flash (16.0.0.305) plugin from "Always Activate" to "Ask to Activate", but the "Ask to Activate" option is greyed out. My only choices are "Always Activate" and "Never Activate".

I'm trying to change Shockwave Flash (16.0.0.305) plugin from "Always Activate" to "Ask to Activate", but the "Ask to Activate" option is greyed out. My only choices are "Always Activate" and "Never Activate".

All Replies (4)

Scribe
Scribe
more options

Hi, try this: Click on the globe or padlock icon at the left-hand end of the address bar > More Information > (Permissions tab), and see if you can set Adobe Flash there.

Hope that will work.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

"Always Activate" - "Ask to Activate" has more to do with Plugins that cause stability or security issues with Firefox and are on the Blocklist - than for user preference as to when Flash is allowed to automatically run. And this feature has changed a few times since [like] Firefox 25 was released, which has been a bit confusing for all of us.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-ons-cause-issues-are-on-blocklist

Flash 16.0.0.305 is not on the Blocklist, thus "Ask to Activate" isn't available. For keeping Flash from automatically running on every website, for a long time many users used the Flash Block extension or maybe NoScript (which is what I use) to keep Flash from running 'willy-nilly'. "Click" what you want view and ignore the "crap" like advertisements that use Flash. But Flash Block isn't compatible with Firefox 35. And with many websites starting to use HTML5 Video - users need an up-to-date solution.

Check out this extension: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/flash-control/ "It gives you control over which sites are allowed to display the Flash player or the HTML5 player. Flash player plays Flash media (embed/object elements). HTML5 player plays HTML5 media (video/audio elements). Media Source Extensions for HTML5 players are NOT supported. It was originally designed with YouTube in mind."

SCloud
SCloud
more options

debbi826 said

I'm trying to change Shockwave Flash (16.0.0.305) plugin from "Always Activate" to "Ask to Activate", but the "Ask to Activate" option is greyed out. My only choices are "Always Activate" and "Never Activate".

I am using Shockwave Flash 16.0.0.296 with Firefox 36.0 and my options are "Ask to Activate" and "Never Activate". What happened between versions .296 and .305?

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

SCloud,

.296 was blocked on Feb 5.

Flash Player Plugin 16.0.0.295 to 16.0.0.304 (click-to-play) has been blocked for your protection. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/blocked/p832