Page Tools: Plug-ins

Plug-ins

Plug-ins help the browser process special types of web content, like Flash or Windows Media files.

• On Windows, Mac, or Linux? Google Chrome supports most popular plug-ins, including Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader, Java, Windows Media Player, Real Player, QuickTime, and Microsoft Silverlight.
• On Chrome OS? Google Chrome supports Adobe Flash Player, the Google voice and video chat plug-in, and PDF.

Install plug-ins

If you allow sites to use plug-ins and Google Chrome detects that you're missing a plug-in for a particular page, it'll prompt you to install the plug-in at the top of webpage.
Click Install plug-in in the message. Some plug-ins begin the installation process by downloading a set-up file to your computer. For those plug-ins, make sure you confirm the download by clicking Save in the downloads bar that appears at the bottom of your browser window. Once the download has finished, restart Google Chrome by closing all open windows to complete the installation process.

Block plug-ins

All plug-ins are allowed by default (unless Google Chrome detects that they're outdated). Use the Content Settings dialog to block specific plug-ins. Follow these steps:

1. Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar.
2. Select Options (Preferences on Mac and Linux; Settings on Chrome OS).
3. Click the Under the Hood tab.
4. Click Content settings in the "Privacy" section.
5. In the "Plug-ins" section, select "Block all." You can customize permissions for specific websites by clicking Manage exceptions.

Allow blocked plug-ins to run

If you have chosen not to allow plug-ins, you’ll see a icon in the address bar whenever plug-ins have been blocked on a page. To adjust plug-in settings for the site, click the icon:

• To always allow plug-ins for the site, click Always allow plug-ins in the menu that appears, then click Done. An exception will be added for the site.
• To allow plug-ins on the site for just this one time, click Run all plug-ins this time.
• To manage your plug-in settings for the browser, click Manage plug-in blocking.

Outdated plug-ins are blocked by default. You'll see a message at the top of the page whenever the browser has blocked outdated plug-ins on the page. Click Run this time in the message to let the outdated plug-in run (not recommended).
A gray box appears on the page where a plug-in has been blocked.

Disable specific plug-ins

You can also completely disable specific plug-ins. Unlike blocked plug-ins, you won’t be able to allow the plug-in to run on a given page. When you visit a page with a disabled plug-in, you’ll see the message “Missing plug-in” appear in its place.
To disable plug-ins, visit the Plug-ins page at chrome://plugins/. Find the plug-in you’d like to disable and click Disable. You can also re-enable disabled plug-ins on this page.
You can also reach the Plug-ins page by clicking Disable individual plug-ins in the "Plug-ins" section of the Content Settings dialog.