Do you remember the old days when you would want to watch a YouTube video for example, and you would get an error saying that you need to update your version of Flash? Well, for some that might still be the case, and not just nostalgia. However, if you haven’t seen that particular error in a while, for about 7 years to be more precise, it’s probably because you are using Google Chrome. One of the differences between Google Chrome and other browsers is the fact that Chrome comes with integrated Flash. The same Adobe Flash that users had to download and manually install previously, will now automatically update itself on Google Chrome. This integration has been live since 2010, and it’s a great feature.
Some might wonder about what this means in terms of performance, Flash version, and all that jazz. Well, let’s take a look at all the important factors. For starters, and most importantly, the integrated player and the manually downloaded player are the same thing. The only difference is that Google Chrome literally takes care of it for you. This way, they can make sure you always have Adobe Flash update.
Developers or other people that need to use a specific version of it for testing can disable the integrated player form the Chrome settings, and enable their desired version. To do this, you must type about:plugins in the address bar. This will open a settings menu from which users can disable the integrated Flash player then enable the custom version they have installed on their computers. If both are active, Chrome will use the integrated version. Unless you are a developer, it is recommended that you leave the integrated player enabled. It offers the most recent version of Flash especially so users wouldn’t have to worry about it updates.