Here are some simple steps to fix Shockwave Flash crashes in Google Chrome. The problem occurs when browsing a Flash-based website e.g. Facebook games or YouTube – the Flash plugin crashes with a message saying: “The following plugin has crashed: Shockwave Flash“.
Ignore the reference to Shockwave – the error message means that the Flash Player plugin has crashed – it has nothing to do with Adobe’s Shockwave Player which is a separate program.
What Causes The Crashes? As noted previously in updating Adobe Flash, Google Chrome already includes an integrated version of Flash Player which is automatically updated by Chrome – there is normally no need to download the standalone Adobe Flash Player which is intended for non-IE users.
However, if Firefox or a similar web browser is (or has ever been) installed on your computer, then you have likely also installed the standalone version of Flash for Firefox/Other web browsers – and this would include Chrome.
Updated Feb 2013 – Since the release of new features in Chrome 24, the ‘experimental’ PepperFlash plugin is now the default player for Flash content – there is no longer an integrated Chrome Flash Plugin.
Chrome may therefore have 1 or 2 versions of Flash Player installed – the new PepperFlash plugin and maybe the standalone Adobe version too. Having two versions enabled may cause the error message because they conflict with each other. Some users report audio and video problems with just the PepperFlash plugin too.
To fix the flash crashes, the aim is to disable all except one Flash plugin and retest. Follow these simple steps:
- Open Chrome and type about:plugins into the website address bar at the top then press the ENTER key to display Chrome’s Plugins page.
- Look down the list of Plugins for ‘Flash’ – if it says ‘Flash (2 files)’ you have Adobe and PepperFlash versions of Flash installed. If it says ‘Flash (1 file)’ you only have the default PepperFlash – both cases may cause Chrome to crash when accessing Flash-based websites…
- Click on the ‘+ Details’ link at the top right of the Plugins page to expand the list of all Plugins.
- Scroll down the list to find the Flash plugins – you should now see the full details of the Flash plugins which may display up to two versions of Flash:
PepperFlash and Adobe Flash installed
- Look at the ‘Location:’ of each version – the PepperFlash version is in (…Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application etc) whilst the standalone Adobe (formerly Macromedia) version is in the …Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash etc directory.
If you have 1 version – PepperFlash:
- Download and save to your computer the latest Adobe standalone version of Flash from Filehippo here (this is the non-IE version).
- Close Chrome and then install this Adobe Flash you just downloaded. At the end of the installation it offers the option of ‘automatic updates’ – highly recommended to keep it up to date in future (see automatic silent updates for details).
- Open Chrome and go back to about:plugins – you should now have 2 plugins (PepperFlash and Adobe).
- Click on ‘Disable’ just under the Location of the PepperFlash version to disable it – it will become greyed out. Ensure that the Adobe version is enabled – if it is disabled (greyed out) click the ‘Enable’ link just under its Location to enable it. Now close the Plugins tab.
If you have 2 versions – PepperFlash and Adobe:
- Click on ‘Disable’ just under the Location of the PepperFlash version to disable it – it will become greyed out.
- Ensure that the Adobe version is enabled – if it is disabled (greyed out) click the ‘Enable’ link just under its Location to enable it. Now close the Plugins tab.
Final Steps
Visit the Adobe Flash Player test page to check that Flash is now properly installed and working ok.
Tip: From version 11.2 onwards, Adobe Flash offers automatic updating – however, it is still worth installing Update Checker to automatically check for new updates as it can check for updates to many other common free programs e.g. Adobe Reader, QuickTime, Java etc.
Other Tips – Updated March 2013
From readers’ comments, the above fix has worked for most but there are many different reasons for Flash crashes in Chrome so, if it doesn’t work for you, here are some further tips that may help:
1. Try the ‘How To Fix It’ steps again but the other way round i.e. this time Enable the integrated PepperFlash and Disable the Adobe version – then test to see if Flash no longer crashes.
2. See if Flash works ok in Incognito mode (click the Wrench/spanner in menu bar and choose ‘New Incognito Window’ to start Incognito Mode). Incognito mode disables all Chrome Extensions – if Flash now works without crashing then one of your Extensions must be causing the problem so, once back in normal Chrome mode, disable your extensions one at a time and test Flash until it stops crashing. The last extension disabled is the one causing the problem – leave it disabled and enable the others again.
3. Disable all Plugins except Flash. If Flash now works without crashing then one of your Plugins must be causing the problem – enable your Plugins one at a time and test Flash until it starts crashing again. The last Plugin enabled is the one causing the problem – disable it and enable the others again.
4. Update yours graphics card drivers (especially if they are old). Driver updates are often released to fix an issue with how Windows or individual programs work with a piece of hardware (e.g. graphics card) or to enable new features for it.
5. Disable Flash hardware acceleration to eliminate hardware or driver compatibility problems with Flash Player – untick ‘Enable Hardware Acceleration’ in the Flash Display panel. To view the Display panel, right click the picture (application image) during playback of a Flash video and, from the context menu, select ‘Settings’. The Display panel is the first panel (tab) shown at the bottom of the Settings window.
6. Test Flash on another browser such as IE or Firefox – if it crashes there too then skip to step 7. If it does not crash there, your version of Chrome may be corrupt. The last resort is to uninstall Chrome and ensure you clear the browsing data during uninstall.
Then, reinstall the latest stable version (currently Chrome 24) and the problem will hopefully be fixed. Remember to backup all your bookmarks/passwords etc BEFORE you uninstall – you could also sign into your Google account and sync settings for use later.
If you do still have problems with Chrome, you may have to wait for a specific fix from Google or Adobe. In the meantime you could use the other browser (e.g. Firefox or IE) if necessary.
7. If the crashes are NOT just in Chrome – see our separate article Flash Crashes in ALL web browsers.
Your URL link DOESN’T WORK!!!!! I’m using Windows XP, and forced to use Chrome. So, what is all the praise here when your URL:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\NPSWF32_11_5_502_110.dll
says: THIS WEBPAGE IS NOT FOUND
@Will – but there is no such URL link in the article.
The “C:\Windows…” line you quote is not a URL or a link or a webpage, it is the location IN WINDOWS of the standalone Adobe Flash plugin (if installed) – there is no link to it in the article and it only appears within the screenshot picture…
Ps if you do have NPSWF32_11_5_502_110.dll that is out of date – current version is 11_5_502_146.dll
YAY!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! I removed the pepperflash thingy and it worked!
Roy, your URL ending in 146.dll GIVES THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE.
PLUS, your instructions of going to Chrome, and entering in:
about:plugins
DOESN’T WORK EITHER.
I further do not know how to save my bookmarks; otherwise, I would uninstall and reinstall Chrome. Google is the worst nightmare there is – support, either by email, chat, or phone. Nothing is clear, except maybe to a complete computer geek.
I have Firefox (which I don’t use much) and it doesn’t bring up this cursed “Shockwave Crashed” message; at least in the couple of attempts I tried.
I uninstalled from Add & Remove programs (In XP) the Abode Flashplayer, and it does nothing either. I can’t work with such a cryptic, user-unfriendly browser like Chrome, yet I have no choice.
@Will – as explained above, NPSWF32_11_5_502_146.dll is a file not a URL.
about:plugins is a standard Chrome shortcut to the list of plugins, it does work if you type it in the omnibar. If it didn’t, I don’t believe Chrome would work at all.
To save (export) your bookmarks before reinstalling, follow Google’s guide which also covers how to import them again later (or sign into Google a/c and synch them) – http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=96816
Or just use Firefox which you say does work – it’s a great browser.
Hi Roy, I followed your instructions and disabled pepflash, leaving only Shockwave Flash 10.1 r53 enabled. Closed down normally, but when I rebooted, pepflash was enabled again. Like a pesky zombie, keeps rising from the dead. Any thoughts? By the way, the url for the plugins page for me is chrome://plugins, not about:plugins.
@richard – you’re right, a recent update to Chrome seems to have broken the ability to permanently disable Pepflash. This bug has been raised at http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=173821
Until it’s fixed you would have to disable Pepflash every time you start Chrome which is a pain
about:plugins is a shortcut to chrome://plugins – you should be able to use (or bookmark) either. PS – is there a reason you’ve stuck with Flash 10.1 – it’s pretty old now compared to 11.5?
I have 11.5 & it still crashes all the damn time. I don’t need both flash players so why does Chrome even have one?
@Eidh – you’d have to ask Google but Microsoft have started doing a similar thing – IE10 in Windows 8 also includes an integrated Flash Player.
So should I just uninstall Shockwave??
@Eidh – if you want to play Flash content then you need a Flash plugin. If Pepperflash works ok then you don’t need Adobe’s version too but otherwise, switching to Adobe’s version may resolve the crashes.
I have no idea if it works. I’d have to uninstall Shockwave to find out I guess.I was having issues with Shockwave before the update too tho. Seems it’s always been an issue. Maybe that’s why Chrome has it’s own flash player now. I guess I could just disable Shockwave right?
Roy, or somebody,
OK, here is a copy & paste of what my plug-ins shows. I don’t see Pepper Flash, so I can’t see why Shockwave Flash crashes. In addition, when I expand the + sign to show all, I first have a scroll bar on the right, but as I used it, it disappears and nothing will move. This is really messed up.
Plug-ins
Plug-ins (17)
Details
Adobe Flash Player – Version: 11.5.31.139
Shockwave Flash 11.5 r31
Name: Shockwave Flash
Description: Shockwave Flash 11.5 r31
Version: 11.5.31.139
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\PepperFlash\11.5.31.139\pepflashplayer.dll
Type: PPAPI (out-of-process)
Disable
MIME types:
MIME type Description File extensions
application/x-shockwave-flash Shockwave Flash
.swf
application/futuresplash Shockwave Flash
.spl
Disable Always allowed
Chrome Remote Desktop Viewer
This plugin allows you to securely access other computers that have been shared with you. To use this plugin you must first install the Chrome Remote Desktop webapp.
Name: Chrome Remote Desktop Viewer
Description: This plugin allows you to securely access other computers that have been shared with you. To use this plugin you must first install the Chrome Remote Desktop webapp.
Version:
Location: internal-remoting-viewer
Type: PPAPI (in-process)
Disable
MIME types:
MIME type Description File extensions
application/vnd.chromium.remoting-viewer
.
Dis
OOPS! I do see PepperFlash in the LOCATION line, a few down from the top. So, what do I do? I had uninstalled Adobe FlashPlayer, but it is still in the C drive anyway, so I would think things should work, unless I don’t understand this well enough (I’m sure I don’t).
@Will – your listing shows you now only have the Pepperflash plugin which is an integral part of Chrome i.e. you do not have Adobe’s separate Flash plugin (as you uninstalled it).
I have experienced the same problem with Pepperflash. I will disable it and then when I start Chrome again, it restarts Pepperflash.
The only way it has worked for me is to rename the Pepperflash dll.
(I found this in the Google forum)
Install Adobe Flash player from Adobe web site
Open Chrome:\\plugins (type this into Chrome address bar)
See the Adobe Flash Player Plugin
Note the location of pepflashplayer.dll
Go to that file location with Explorer (Not browser Explorer, file explorer)
Right click on the file
Left click on Rename in the popup menu
Change the file name (I just change the dll extension to lld) or you could delete the file, but I don’t usually like to do
Restart Chrome
Check the plugins again
If another pepflashplayer.dll shows up rename that one also and restart Chrome.
If you are unable to follow these instructions, or don’t know how to find the pepflashplayer.dll file, then you need to get someone to do it for you
@Roy: Does that prevent the crashes from occurring??
@Ben – thanks for the tip, works a treat!
@Eidh – that workaround lets you permanently (at least until next version of Chrome) disable Pepperflash so you can use Adobe’s Flash plugin instead. Won’t necessarily fix all crashes but if Pepperflash was the cause then it provides an alternative – many people find that Adobe’s version does fix the crashes.
thank you very much
Thanks guys, everything is now working fine. I followed your advice to rename the pepflash dll and disable pepperflash plug in. My old shockwave was very out of date because in a vain attempt to get more speed out of my setup I disabled anything that checks to see if you need updates. Maybe not such a good move. But I now have latest shockwave, have only 1 plugin working, and don’t get shockwave crashes anymore. I still get unresponsive page message sometimes, but it’s an older machine and may be under resourced. I’ve heard that a fix for that is to change your waiting time to 20 seconds from 10, but haven’t tried it yet.
@richard – good to hear it worked for you
Roy, alright, I understand it’s not a URL. But where do you go to, and what do you do with this: C:/WINDOWS/system32/Macromed/Flash/NPSWF32_11_5_502_146.dll
You haven’t made any of this clear. I tried going into Windows program files, and don’t see how you use this. You need to be more specific and instruct how to do this. People could do permanent damage to their OS.