The Flash Player is a plugin for web browsers that you need in order to watch videos and interactive content on some websites. Although most of the modern websites use HTML5 that does not require Flash, there are still some websites that need it enabled.
In this article, we will tell you how to download and install the Flash Player through your Linux command line and then enable it through any of your available web browsers.
We have run the commands and procedures mentioned in this article on an Ubuntu 18.04 LTS system and used the Firefox web browser in order to enable the Flash Plugin.
Step 1: Enable Ubuntu Canonical Partners Repository
In order to install the latest Flash plugin, you need to have the Canonical Partners repository enabled on your system. By default this repository is disabled. Open your Ubuntu Terminal either through system Dash or the Ctrl+Alt+D shortcut. Then enter the following command as root in order to enable the repository:
$ sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner"
You will be asked to provide the password for root after which the repository will be enabled on your system:
The next step is to update your system repositories so that the latest available version of a software can be installed. Run the following command as root in order to do so:
$ sudo apt update
Now, your repository is in line with the latest package available in the Internet’s Canonical Partners’ repository.
Step 2: Install the Flash Plugin through the apt package
You can install the Flash Plugin easily by running the following command as sudo in your Linux Terminal:
$ sudo apt install flashplugin-installer
The system will prompt you with a Y/n option in order to begin the installation procedure. Please enter Y and hit Enter to begin. The Flash Plugin will then be installed on your system. Exit the Terminal by entering the exit command:
$ exit
Step 3: Enable the Flash Player through the Adobe website
Open one of the available web browsers on your system. Restart the web browser if it is already open and then open the following link on the official Adobe website.
https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html
You will see a few points in the Flash Player Help. Move to point number 5 and see if you can view an animation running in the window:
If not, click on the Run Adobe Flash link on the animation window. The following pop-up will appear in your browser:
Click the Allow option in order to allow Adobe Flash to run on the browser. Now, look at the animation in Help point number 5. You should be able to see the following clouds and tree animation running in your browser.
This animation ensures that the Flash Plugin is successfully installed and enabled on your Ubuntu system.
In this article, we have learned how to download and install the Flash Plugin apt package from the Canonical Partners’ repository. We have also practiced the important step of enabling the Flash Player on our web browsers.