Flash Player | 64-bit operating systems

You could be on this page because you can't view content with Flash Player.  It's likely that your computer is running a 64-bit Web browser on a 64-bit operating system and you are trying to install Flash Player. Flash Player does not run in most 64-bit browsers. If you attempt to download Flash Player in a 64-bit browser that doesn't support Flash Player, you see a message from Adobe and a link back to this page. To install Flash Player, use a 32-bit web browser on your 64-bit operating system. All major browsers are available in 32-bit versions, and the Internet Explorer 32-bit browser is the default browser on Windows 64-bit systems.

Note: You can download a preview release of Flash Player with the codename "Square." This release includes full support for 64-bit web browsers on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux computers from Adobe Labs (http://labs.adobe.com). The preview release works with 64-bit web browsers, so you do not need to use a 32-bit browser as described in the instructions below.

Click here for instructions to install the current 32-bit Flash Player on a 64-bit operating system

Or, learn more about 64-bit operating systems and Flash Player:

·         What is a 64-bit operating system or 64-bit application?

·         How do I find out if I have a 64-bit operating system?

·         Why doesn’t Flash Player come in a 64-bit version?

·         Will Flash Player come in a 64-bit version soon?

Install Flash Player on a 64-bit operating system

To run 32-bit Flash Player on a 64-bit operating system other than Linux, use a 32-bit browser. (Or, you can install the preview release 64-bit Flash Player from Adobe Labs.). Here are instructions to install Flash Player in a 32-bit browser for common operating system and web browser combinations: 

·         Windows with Internet Explorer

·         Windows with other browsers, such as Firefox, Google Chrome or Opera

·         Mac OS 

·         Linux

Windows with Internet Explorer

1.       Select Start > All Programs. There are two (or more) icons for Internet Explorer.
Note: The 32-bit version of Internet Explorer is the default browser in Windows 7 machines.

2.       Click the one that says only "Internet Explorer" to start the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer.
Do not click "Internet Explorer (64-bit)" or "Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)" (if it exists in your menu). Those options start the 64-bit version of the Web browser.

3.       Confirm that you've opened the 32-bit Internet Explorer by selecting the question mark in the upper-right corner of the browser. (This icon is the Help menu icon). If you don't see it, you can click the >> symbol in the upper right corner of the browser to reveal the icon:

4.       In the Help menu, select About Internet Explorer. 
If you do not see the words "64-bit Edition" next to the version number, you are running the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer. Continue to the next step, step 5. If you do see the words "64-bit Edition," go back to step 1 and be sure that you have selected the correct browser.

5.        While using the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer, go to: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer (the Flash Player Download Center). 
The download center installs Flash Player in your 32-bit Web browser. You are now ready to view content using Flash Player in your 32-bit browser.

Note:  Make sure that you go to the Flash Player Download center in your 32-bit browser. If you try to go to the download center using a 64-bit Web browser, you see a message from Adobe and a link back to this page. You cannot install Flash Player in your 64-bit Web browser.

For more information on using Flash Player in the 32-bit Internet Explorer, including how to ensure the 32-bit Internet Explorer displays in your Start menu, see Flash Player doesn't work | Windows 7 (cpsid_83715).

Windows with other browsers, such as Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera

To use Firefox or other (not Internet Explorer) browsers with Flash Player on your 64-bit system, do the following:

1.       Download the 32-bit version from the browser vendor's website. For example, Firefox is a 32-bit Web browser you can download from http://www.mozilla.org/firefox.

2.       While using the 32-bit version of your Web browser, go to: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer (the Flash Player Download Center).
The download center installs Flash Player in your 32-bit Web browser. You are now ready to view content using Flash Player in your 32-bit browser.

Note:  Make sure that you go to the Flash Player Download center in your 32-bit browser. If you try to go to the download center using a 64-bit Web browser, you see a message from Adobe and a link back to this page. You cannot install 32-bit Flash Player in your 64-bit Web browser.

Mac OS

Mac OS comes with Apple's Safari Web browser pre-installed. The 64-bit version of the Safari browser includes a feature called a "compatibility layer" (a process that runs 32-bit plug-ins in the 64-bit application). Therefore, you can install Flash Player in a 64-bit Safari Web browser. To install Flash Player into the Safari browser, go to: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer (the Flash Player Download Center).

Firefox and other browsers on Mac OS: To use other browsers (like Firefox or Chrome) with Flash Player on your 64-bit Mac OS system:

1.       Download the 32-bit version from the browser vendor's website. For example, Firefox is a 32-bit Web browser you can download from http://www.mozilla.org/firefox.

2.       While using the 32-bit version of your Web browser, go to: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer (the Flash Player Download Center).
The download center installs Flash Player in your 32-bit Web browser. You are now ready to view content using Flash Player in your 32-bit browser.

For more information on using Flash Player on Mac OS X 10.6 on 64-bit machines, see "Flash Player doesn't work | Mac OS X 10.6" (TechNote 51222).

Linux

Use one of the following methods to run Flash Player with a Linux browser:

Use a 32-bit web browser for Linux:

1.       Download the 32-bit version from the browser vendor's website. For example, Firefox is a 32-bit Web browser you can download from http://www.mozilla.org/firefox

2.       While using the 32-bit version of your Web browser, go to: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer (the Flash Player Download Center).
The download center installs Flash Player in your 32-bit Web browser. You are now ready to view content using Flash Player in your 32-bit browser.

Note:  Make sure that you go to the Flash Player Download center in your 32-bit browser. If you try to go to the download center using a 64-bit Web browser, you see a message from Adobe and a link back to this page. You cannot install the current 32-bit Flash Player in your 64-bit Web browser.

Or, use a compatibility layer with a 64-bit web browser for Linux:

You can view Flash Player content in a 64-bit browser on Linux by using a compatibility layer such as NSPluginWrapper.

For instructions on installing Flash Player on Ubuntu Linux distributions, click here

What is a 64-bit operating system or a 64-bit application?

64 bit refers to the size of each piece of data the operating system or application uses. Many operating systems (such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS) and applications are sold as either 64-bit or 32-bit applications. However, it’s not always obvious which version you have. For example, you can buy a 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 or a 32-bit version, and they’re both called "Windows 7". Look at your computer settings (or possibly the box it came in) to find the version your computer uses. Applications usually say in the application name, such as "Internet Explorer (64-bit)", if the application is a 64-bit version. But, applications don’t always indicate if they are 32 bit. Typically, an application is assumed to be 32 bit unless otherwise noted in the name or Help contents for that application.

64-bit processes are faster than 32-bit processes, but 32-bit mode is more common and has been available longer. Flash Player is a 32-bit application. 64-bit operating systems often run some applications that are 64 bit and some that are 32-bit applications. For example, Windows 7, 64-bit version, comes with two Internet Explorer programs. One is Internet Explorer 64 bit and the other is Internet Explorer 32 bit (though the 32-bit version doesn’t say that in the program name).

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The current major release of Flash Player does not run within a 64-bit Web browser. When your 64-bit browser tries to open a website containing content for Flash Player in it, you get an error message or link to download Flash Player. You can't install the current major release of Flash Player in a 64-bit Web browser, and that is why it's necessary to use the 32-bit browser. You can run Flash Player in a 32-bit Web browser on 64-bit systems. To install Flash Player on a 64-bit system, follow these instructions: Install Flash Player on a 64-bit operating system.

How do I find out if I have a 64-bit operating system?

Often 32-bit operating systems are not explicitly named or called out as 32-bit systems in any place that is obvious. However, you can check the operating system on your computer while it is running:

To check your version of Windows:

1.       Click the Start menu.

2.       Right-click Computer (or in some cases, it says "My Computer"). 

3.       Select Properties. A System Properties dialog box displays your computer information, including the operating system. If you are running 64-bit Windows, the dialog box says it. Look at the System information on Windows XP as "x64 Edition," or the System type in Windows 7 or Windows Vista:





Otherwise, assume that you have a 32-bit system. 

To check your version of Mac OS: 

Mac OS 10.6 (known as "Snow Leopard") runs in either 64-bit mode or 32-bit mode, depending on the hardware in your computer. Older versions of Mac OS run in 32-bit mode. For information on how to check your version of Mac OS, see http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3696.

To check your version of Linux:

At the command line, type: uname -a and press Enter. If the output contains "64" such as x86_64 or ia64, then you’re running a 64-bit system. 

To install Flash Player on a 64-bit system, follow these instructions: Install Flash Player on a 64-bit operating system.

Why doesn't Flash Player come in a 64-bit version?

64-bit software is coded differently from 32-bit software. Generally, programs built on and integrated with other software must have the same architecture (for example, 32 bit or 64 bit). In many cases, a compatibility layer allows 32-bit software to run on 64-bit operating systems. For example, most browsers on Windows are 32 bit (such as Internet Explorer 32 bit, Firefox, and Chrome). They run well on 64-bit Windows with Flash Player today. Accordingly, Flash Player currently runs well on Windows 7 64 bit using any of these 32-bit browsers. Similarly, 64-bit browsers like Safari on Mac OS Snow Leopard run Flash Player using a transparent compatibility layer. 

Will Flash Player come in a 64-bit version soon?

Adobe is actively working on the release of a native 64-bit Flash Player for the desktop and plans to provide native support for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux 64-bit platforms in an upcoming major release of Flash Player. 

Note: You can download a preview release of Flash Player with the codename "Square." This release includes full support for 64-bit web browsers on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers from Adobe Labs (http://labs.adobe.com). The preview release installs into 64-bit web browsers, so you do not need to use a 32-bit browser to view Flash Player content.

More solutions

For details on 32-bit browsers for Windows, visit your browser manufacturer's website, or Microsoft Help & Support. Windows 7 users, see Flash Player doesn't work | Windows 7 (cpsid_83715).

For details on using Flash Player on Mac OS X, see Troubleshoot Flash Player | Mac OS (cpsid_86551).

For details on using Flash Player with Linux, see Troubleshooting Adobe Flash Player for Linux and Solaris (tn_15397).

For other installation problems on Windows, see Troubleshoot Flash Player installation | Windows (tn_19166).

Visit the Adobe Flash Player Help and Support page for assistance with top issues.