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In various websites, at random times and with no apparent pattern, the Flash plugin will crash. This has occurred in every browser, and I typically have at least one crash a day. According to Mozilla's plugin check I have the latest version of Flash (10.1.102.64)

This is a new MacBook Pro (17", 2010 unibody version) running fully updated Mac OS X 10.6.5.

Does the plugin just crash for everyone, or is this unique to me? How often does Flash crash for you? Is there anything I can check, or is there a way I can reinstall Flash or some other diagnosis I can run? I haven't been experiencing other issues with my computer or my browser.

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    When I'm using it for something, it crashes for me at least once a day. Even when it works, it's usually pretty slow. That's why I use FlashBlock. None of the websites that I use need it.
    – Ken
    Nov 30, 2010 at 5:26

4 Answers 4

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There's a reason why Apple appears to onlookers to be so anti-Flash, and it's because Flash sucks on Macs (it may also suck on other OSs, but I don't use them enough to be knowledgeable).

What to do about it depends on what browser you use (your question doesn't say, as Mozilla's Plugin Check isn't FF-only):

  • Safari - the answer is ClickToFlash. Honestly, C2F is something that should just come pre-installed on every Mac.
  • Firefox/Camino - As Ken mentioned in a comment, you want the FlashBlock extension.
  • Chrome - use the FlashBlock for Chrome extension.

As has already been said: you can get along fine on almost all sites without Flash. Here's some additional recommended reading, both of which are from John Gruber at Daring Fireball:

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  • +1 for Going Flash-Free. I’ve done that and I love it. When I see the missing plug-in I laugh. Sometimes when I have to, there’s always chrome :)
    – Martin Marconcini
    Dec 1, 2010 at 11:38
  • Great suggestion, I don't know why I didn't think of this before! I installed FlashBlock (I'm a Firefox user) and it's simply awesome. This is a great "solution" to the Flash problem.
    – Ricket
    Dec 2, 2010 at 4:41
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Flash on the Mac is the single-largest cause of Safari crashes. That's just the way it is.

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    Indeed. I would just add that you should simply uninstall flash and if a site uses it, write to the author and complain.
    – ericg
    Nov 30, 2010 at 14:44
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Flash crashed so often for me, I have gone flash free and only use flash in Google Chrome browser. Google installs flash within that one app, updates flash behind the scenes and Safari hasn't crashed once in 6 months.

I would recommend three useful and stable Safari extensions if you disable flash in Safari:

  • YouTube5
  • HTML5 Audio
  • H.264 Flickr Video

Safari Extensions

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I recently found FlashVideoReplacer for Firefox. It replaces Flash videos with native players like Quicktime when available. Flash is a CPU killer for me, so this helps.

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