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To keep your browsing fast and secure, Firefox does not activate plugins by default. Learn how to allow plugins to run on a website.

[[T:PluginSupportEOL]] {for fx55} To keep your browsing experience fast, reliable and secure, Firefox will not activate [[Use plugins to play audio, video, games and more|plugins]] by default. Instead, Firefox lets you choose whether or not to allow a plugin to run on a website. =How click to activate works= When Firefox blocks a plugin, rather than seeing content, you'll see a message prompting you to click to {for not fx58}activate{/for}{for fx58}run{/for} the plugin, such as Adobe Flash. ;{for not fx58}[[Image:activate flash 55]]{/for}{for fx58}[[Image:activate_flash_58]]{/for} On some sites, you'll see just a blank rectangle, and the plugin notification icon will appear toward the left end of the address bar. ;{for not fx57}[[Image:Fx56AllowFlashOptions]]{/for}{for =fx57}[[Image:Fx57AllowFlashOptions]]{/for}{for fx58}[[Image:Fx58AllowFlashOptions]]{/for} If you click the message or the notification icon to activate the plugin, Firefox will prompt you with {for not fx58}two{/for}{for fx58}these{/for} options: {for not fx57} *'''Allow Now''': Activates Flash only for a single visit. *'''Allow and Remember''': Activates Flash for all future visits to that site. {/for} {for =fx57} *'''Allow and Remember''': Activates Flash for all future visits to that site. *'''Allow Now''': Activates Flash only for a single visit. {/for} {for fx58} *'''Allow''': Activates Flash only for a single visit. To automatically activate Flash for all future visits to that site, check the '''Remember this decision''' checkbox. *'''Don't Allow''': Dismisses the notification prompt without activating Flash. {/for} If you click to activate and allow the plugin, the missing content will load normally. (If it doesn't, click the reload [[Image:FxReloadButton]] button in the {for not fx57}address bar{/for}{for fx57}toolbar{/for} to reload the page and try again.) =When is it okay to activate a plugin?= In a situation like this, you can make a smart choice depending on your current task: *'''If you're using a trusted site''' like a special site for your work or school, you might feel safe enough to enable a plugin in order to view the site's content. *'''If you don't fully trust a site''', for example, you arrived at the site by following a link, you probably '''do not''' want to activate the plugin. {note}'''Always activate plugin (not recommended)''': You can also set a plugin to always activate by entering ''about:addons'' on the address bar and setting the plugin to {menu Always activate} in its drop-down menu. The plugin will automatically run and you won't get the {for not fx58}"Click to activate"{/for}{for fx58}"Run Adobe Flash"{/for} message.{/note} {/for} {for not fx55} In the past, to protect you from [[Use plugins to play audio, video, games and more|plugins]] that have stability or security issues, Firefox could only turn off the problematic plugin. Now, Firefox can prevent the plugin from running automatically (which prevents many issues) and then lets you choose whether to run or update the plugin. Here's how it works. {note}'''Note:''' This article describes what to do when a plugin has been [[Add-ons that cause stability or security issues are put on a blocklist|blocked by Mozilla from running automatically because of stability or security issues]]. Most plugins still need to be activated even though they are up to date because Firefox now sets plugins to "Ask to Activate" in the Add-ons Manager by default (Adobe Flash is the exception). For more information, see [https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2013/09/24/plugin-activation-in-firefox/ this blog post].{/note} __TOC__ =How click to activate works= #When Firefox blocks a plugin you'll see a message similar to this: #;[[Image:Click to play 1 new]] #You can then choose to run the plugin or update it (if an update is available). #*If you click to activate and allow the plugin, the missing content will load normally. (If it doesn't, click the reload [[Image:FxReloadButton]] button in the address bar to reload the page and try again.) However, the next time you visit the site or any other that uses that plugin you will see this message again. #;[[Image:Click to play 2 new]] =When is it OK to activate instead of updating a plugin?= Updating a plugin is always the safest thing to do but, sometimes, it may not be possible. For example, you may not be allowed to update a computer at work or school. In a situation like this, you can make a smart choice depending on your current task: *'''If you're using a trusted site''' like a special site for your work or school, you might feel safe enough to enable a vulnerable plugin in order to view the site's content. *'''If you don't fully trust a site''', for example, you arrived at the site by following a link, you probably '''do not''' want to activate the plugin. ==How to always activate a plugin for a trusted website== If you are unable to update a plugin and you are using a trusted site, you can set that plugin to automatically run whenever using that site: #Click the red plugin icon in the address bar and a message window will open. #In the message panel, click {menu Allow and Remember}. #;[[Image:Blocklisted-ActivateFlash]] Now, whenever you visit this site, the plugin will automatically run and you won't get the "Run Adobe Flash" message. {/for}