Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How to identify what plugin is required?

  • 9 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 105 views
  • Last reply by user1194064

more options

When one browses to a website, and it fails to load with the little grey label that says "A plugin is required to play this content", how on earth does one identify WHICH plugin?

I have been using firefox for years and have a system that work perfectly most of the time, and has all the usual suspects already installed. But when I see the message above, I just get frustrated because there is no link to follow, and so far as I can tell, no information at all to lead to a resolution of the issue.

Thanks for any pointers.

When one browses to a website, and it fails to load with the little grey label that says "A plugin is required to play this content", how on earth does one identify WHICH plugin? I have been using firefox for years and have a system that work perfectly most of the time, and has all the usual suspects already installed. But when I see the message above, I just get frustrated because there is no link to follow, and so far as I can tell, no information at all to lead to a resolution of the issue. Thanks for any pointers.

Chosen solution

hi, most probably this message refers to adobe's shockwave flash plugin: Install the Flash plugin to view videos, animations and games

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (9)

more options

Chosen Solution

hi, most probably this message refers to adobe's shockwave flash plugin: Install the Flash plugin to view videos, animations and games

more options

Thanks for that link.

I had already installed every "flash" related option I could find in the "add-ons" pages, but have not previously come across this manual process. Will have to see if I find any more of those annoying little grey squares!

more options

Can you give us a screenshot? If it's the Firefox notification bar, then you'll be able to identify the missing plug-in easily.

more options

Firefox Support said

Can you give us a screenshot? If it's the Firefox notification bar, then you'll be able to identify the missing plug-in easily.

The site that most recently prompted my question is no longer showing the message after implementing Philipp's suggestion - so that has been successful at least in this instance.

Can you explain how it is possible to "identify the missing plug-in easily"? In the past I have seen similar messages that included a link to the appropriate plug-in. These were simple to rectify. This one however, had the dotted outline of a lego brick and the statement that a plug-in was missing. There was no link at all, nothing in the title bar, I even viewed the page source in the hope of recognising something (but didn't). I'm assuming there is some information box somewhere that I don't know about...

Thanks.

more options

gth65 said

Firefox Support said
Can you give us a screenshot? If it's the Firefox notification bar, then you'll be able to identify the missing plug-in easily.

The site that most recently prompted my question is no longer showing the message after implementing Philipp's suggestion - so that has been successful at least in this instance.

Can you explain how it is possible to "identify the missing plug-in easily"? In the past I have seen similar messages that included a link to the appropriate plug-in. These were simple to rectify. This one however, had the dotted outline of a lego brick and the statement that a plug-in was missing. There was no link at all, nothing in the title bar, I even viewed the page source in the hope of recognising something (but didn't). I'm assuming there is some information box somewhere that I don't know about...

Thanks.

I was assuming that the information box had a link to install the plug-in, like this: http://www.dedoimedo.com/images/computers/firefox-no-flash.png In that case, you can simply click the link (which you already know), but if Firefox doesn't recognize which plug-in is needed, you would need to figure it out yourself which is what I think happened in this case.

I'm glad that you solved your problem, though.

more options

Be sure to mark them as the answer!

more options

Most missing plug-in errors are caused by Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader, Java, Real Player, Quicktime, Adobe Shockwave Player, Unity 3D or SilverLight being missing.

Modified by user1194064

more options

Firefox Support said

Most missing plug-in errors are caused by Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Shockwave Player, Unity 3D or SilverLight...

Cheers for that

more options

You don't have to worry about identifying missing plug-ins, though. Most, if not all, websites or browsers tell you what you need to download.

Modified by user1194064