# Is there an easy way to turn Adobe Flash on and off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 25, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543 "2006-12-25T17:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/1 "2006-12-25T17:44:54Z")
The flashing ads on my news page were driving me nuts so I uninstalled Flash. But then I needed it to print the NY Times crossword for the day. So I installed and uninstalled again. Is there another way? A browser setting or msconfig way? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/2 "2006-12-25T17:57:45Z")
Depends a bit on which browser you are using and which OS. For IE 6 and later on Windows you can enable/disable flash & other plug-ins by menuing to Tools \>\> Manage Add-ons … ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/3 "2006-12-25T18:24:21Z")
Thanks. I had tried that but saw no programs in the box called “Add-ons that Run Without Permission” But if you wait several seconds, the long list appears. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/4 "2006-12-25T18:26:26Z")
Another possibility is to get Firefox. There is a Firefox add-on called Flashblock that changes all Flash to a clickable button. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/5 "2006-12-25T19:25:02Z")
Thanks. Tried Firefox and didn’t like it at all, but a Flash button is about time. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/6 "2006-12-25T19:53:19Z")
The antispyware product SpywareBlaster has a “disable Flash” tab. I recommend SpywareBlaster as an adjunct to Windows Defender or Ad-Aware or the other antispyware programs that expect you to run a regular scan of your system, thereby identifying and removing malware that has infected your computer. SpywareBlaster doesn’t perform a scan; it runs in the background and prevents many common infections from occurring in the first place. Nice companion. The fact that it includes a Flash killer is a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/7 "2006-12-25T22:48:32Z")
Sounds good. I’ve been looking for a new anti-spyware package. My old one doesn’t support IE7. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/8 "2006-12-25T23:24:55Z")
I just located this free utility \*\*Flash-and-Pics-Control \*\* [http://www.browsertools.net/Flash-and-Pics-Control/index.html](http://www.browsertools.net/Flash-and-Pics-Control/index.html) By putting the link to it in my Links list, it became a button on my browser. Can’t ask for more easier. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-turn-adobe-flash-on-and-off/385543/9 "2006-12-26T05:37:59Z")
Assuming the GQ has been answered, what don’t you like about Firefox? (IMHO it’s the cat’s pajamas)