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

Flash crashing since Flash update to 11.5 and Firefox update to 17.

  • 60 replies
  • 201 have this problem
  • 23 views
  • Last reply by Chris Ilias

more options

About 4 days ago, Adobe Flash Player updated to 11.5 and started crashing multiple times a day. So when Firefox updated to 17 today, I immediately uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled the new versions in hope that the problems would be fixed. When that wasn't the case, I followed all the steps for Flash 11.3 and nothing has worked. This is only happening in Firefox. Flash works fine in Google Chrome and in Internet Explorer. My school's primary requirement is that I use Firefox with Flash to do my schoolwork. This is an issue if I have to restart Firefox multiple times during my session. 25% of all Flash crashes also crash Firefox. I need help soon.

About 4 days ago, Adobe Flash Player updated to 11.5 and started crashing multiple times a day. So when Firefox updated to 17 today, I immediately uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled the new versions in hope that the problems would be fixed. When that wasn't the case, I followed all the steps for Flash 11.3 and nothing has worked. This is only happening in Firefox. Flash works fine in Google Chrome and in Internet Explorer. My school's primary requirement is that I use Firefox with Flash to do my schoolwork. This is an issue if I have to restart Firefox multiple times during my session. 25% of all Flash crashes also crash Firefox. I need help soon.

All Replies (20)

more options

The problem seems to be caused by Firefox's Protection Mode. I think I have a fix, but I'm hesitant to post it at the moment. I want to give it a day or two to see if there are any other problems. But if anyone is that desperate for a fix, Google "Disable Firefox Protection Mode" and that will give you instructions on how to do it. WARNING: This is only recommended for experienced computer users. You will be manipulating sensitive system files.

more options

Has anybody figured out how to fix Adobe Flash 11.5 with Firefox 17? Every site I go to, flash crashes. I'm trying to get some games played on pchgames.com and can't because flash is crashing MORE NOW than ever before. I even tried to submit a couple of screen shots but they're not being accepted.

more options

You can check for problems caused by recent Flash updates and try these:

  • disable a possible RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension for Firefox and update the RealPlayer if installed
  • disable protected mode in Flash 11.3 and later
  • disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin
more options

None of those things worked. I even changed an integer in the program of Flash and nothing has helped. Still crashing like a son of a bitch.

more options

Sorry, don't read Arabic. Or whatever language that is.

more options

I have this same problem and at one point was loading flash player plugin twice in processes. It loads 2 as normal. I was loading 4. What it does now is it seems to work normally then suddenly it is going wild using 100% of the CPU and locking everything up so i have 2 exit using task master and end the plugin process. which ends FF . Also has caused at least 3 cases of blue screen. The problem seems 2 be in the way the plugin handles flash player input and other CPU activity at the same time. Like it lost its' braking power and just floor the flash player content to the CPU.

thanks SilverWolf

more options

Looks like NOBODY has ANY real solutions as to why Adobe Flash 11.5 keeps crashing like a son of a bitch.

more options

Has ANYBODY been able to contact Adobe and tell them that the latest version of Flash Players is ****** and to come up with a different version?

Edited for language. See Mozilla Support rules and guidelines. aw

Modified by AliceWyman

more options

Does anyone know if this would work? I've never done anything like it so I'm a little apprehensive.

"You can disable Protected Mode in Flash 11.3 and above by adding the line ProtectedMode=0 to the Flash "mms.cfg" file located in:

   (Windows 32bit) C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash 
   (Windows 64bit) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash 

For example, on a Windows 7 64-bit system, open the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash folder, copy the file "mms.cfg" to the desktop, open it in Notepad, add a new line ProtectedMode=0 and then close Notepad, saving your changes. Next, go back to the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash folder, rename the original file to "mms.cfgBAK" (to save it as a backup) and then drag and drop in the modified "mms.cfg" file from the desktop"

more options

I tried that. I would get a message saying "You don't have the authorization to make the change." Yet Flash player still crashes like an S.O.B.!!

more options

You will have to copy the file to another folder and make the changes there and copy the file back or run the editor as Administrator via the right-click context menu.

more options

I tried to upload a screen shot of the problem, but I get an "ERROR UPLOADING IMAGE!! Invalid or no image receive.

Here is the problem I get trying to input Protected Mode=0.

"Cannot create the C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\mms.cfg

Make sure that the path and file name are correct."

Any other suggestions?

more options

The answer is still the same - the "path and file name are correct" problem is because it is a protected system folder. Copy the file outside of the folder, edit it, SAVE it on the desktop, then copy the file back into the protected system folder.

I just tried it here on Windows 7 Enterprise - works fine. As for the fix itself... trying it out right now...

more options

Dammit Jim! The minute I hit enter after typing "www.youtube.com" into my address bar, the browser locks (though it never says "Not responding") but I can't click any buttons or menus, and after about 15-30 seconds it FINALLY loads the page.

Flat install of Firefox - no addons, hardware acceleration disabled, no sync, everything I can do to get it as close to "basic" as possible - even Flash Player is set to no hardware acceleration. This is BS! I'm tired of these frequent updates. Who exactly is Mozilla serving by having more updates than Microsoft in the middle of a security crisis?

Modified by FalseTetrabyte

more options

Well which folder should I save it to? I had it saved in notepad after saving it to the desktop. Microsoft word?

more options

Hi--

I switched over to Seamonkey and took a look at the Error Console. It showed something about pop-ups. On a hunch, I disabled the pop-up blocker from my security system and now youtube plays... on all the browsers (IE, Firefox and Seamonkey)

I have no idea if this will help anyone here.... just wanted to state was worked for me.

more options

You mean to tell me we can't use a pop-up blocker any more? That has to be fixed. I refuse to except that I have to deal with the chance on running into a website that decides it wants to freeze my computer by bombarding me with pop-up. I don't like Chrome, but at this point, I may have no choice. Firefox has turned into shit over the last year.

more options

I have no idea. It might be my security system that decided to be difficult (free download from my provider). Even though I turned the blocker off, I haven't gotten any pop-ups yet.... Who knows what the issue really is. Try disabling it and see if it's a "fix" that works for you to begin with. Making this change fixed my problem over 3 browsers... so it might be a Flash issue or a Total Defense issue and nothing to do with Firefox...

Modified by LadyT_TNT

more options

Well what the hell is Seamonkey and how does it help with Flash Player crashing?

Modified by crazycappy

more options

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY REAL SOLUTIONS IN GETTING FLASH PLAYER TO STOP CRASHING OTHER THAN CHANGING THE PROTECTION MODE BECAUSE ... *Moderator Edit*

Modified by Matt_G

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3