Install Adobe Flash Without Adobe DLM

Martin Brinkmann
Dec 9, 2009
Updated • Jan 2, 2017
Tutorials
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18

Adobe has issued an update for Adobe Flash yesterday that fixes a security vulnerability. Most users who received notice about the update are download an update for Adobe Flash at the official Adobe website.

Firefox users who try to update Flash are in for a treat as a message to allow Adobe DLM will pop up when trying to install the latest version of Adobe Flash.

Adobe DLM, the DLM stands for Download Manager, is a Firefox extension that gets installed during that process. Users who accept the installation of Adobe DLM will install the download manager as a plugin in Firefox.

Adobe DLM will be listed as getPlusPlus for Adobe 16253 in the Plugins listing of the web browser. The 16253 is most likely the version of the plugin and subject to change.

Adobe DLM will then launch a download manager upon the next start of Firefox. This download manager will open an UAC prompt in Windows Vista and Windows 7, and download the latest version of Adobe Flash afterwards.

The Adobe DLM plugin remains in the plugin folder of the web browser even after that installation completes. Here is the way to install Adobe Flash without Adobe DLM:

  • Open the Adobe Flash website in Firefox (or another web browser), click on the Agree and Install Now link.
  • Firefox will now open a small row on top that informs the user that the installation of Adobe DLM has been blocked. Users who click on the allow button will install Adobe DLM. This is not needed to update or install Adobe Flash.
  • Ignore the warning and locate the "click here to download link". A click on that link will download the Adobe Flash installer to the local computer system.
  • Close Firefox and every other web browser and double-click the Adobe Flash installation file to start the installation or update of Adobe Flash.

It is even easier by downloading this file from the Adobe website. The file automatically points to the latest official Flash Player release at Adobe.

How to remove Adobe DLM

Adobe DLM adds an entry to the Programs list in the Windows Control Panel. It can be uninstalled from there. Make sure all web browser windows are closed before performing the uninstallation.

Update: Make sure to check for updates after the installation to verify that the latest version of Adobe Flash has been installed (one option to verify that is to look at the version number of the plugin in Firefox and compare that to the latest version posted on the Adobe website).

Adobe Flash is no longer distributed with the Adobe Download Manager plugin for the Firefox web browser.

Summary
Install Adobe Flash Without Adobe DLM
Article Name
Install Adobe Flash Without Adobe DLM
Description
Adobe Download Manager is a plugin for Firefox which Adobe pushes on its website when Firefox users try to download Adobe Flash from it.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Avi said on April 14, 2011 at 10:26 pm
    Reply

    Thanks!

  2. Prophet said on August 13, 2010 at 7:06 am
    Reply

    The version of the plugin in mozilla says 10.1.82.76 atm. The adobe site says 10.1. I prefer using https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ which checks some common plugins for updates in firefox.

  3. slappy said on April 1, 2010 at 12:06 am
    Reply

    “click here to download link” is removed, for windows download from http://fpdownload.adobe.com/get/flashplayer/current/install_flash_player.exe for Firefox or http://fpdownload.adobe.com/get/flashplayer/current/install_flash_player_ax.exe for internet explorer. much faster than DLM garbage

    1. Dong said on July 17, 2010 at 11:24 am
      Reply

      Many thanks @slappy!

  4. hoohead said on March 15, 2010 at 1:24 pm
    Reply

    Adobe DLM sucks, because it not works on win2k Systems.

  5. 26Dolphins said on December 13, 2009 at 2:46 pm
    Reply

    Hi,

    If you download the updates through Secunia PSI or directly from Adobe’s site and have your browser set to block pop-ups of the like, you want get this DM ever.

    That’s how I do it, and before reading all the articles about this DM, I didn’t even know it existed.

    Cheers,
    26Dolphins

  6. dushi said on December 10, 2009 at 6:33 pm
    Reply

    ededwq

  7. Q said on December 10, 2009 at 9:36 am
    Reply

    Adobe Flash Player versions installers and standalone application may be downloaded from:

    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html

    Downloads are large and contain previous versions of Adobe Flash Player and Macromedia Flash Player.

    Here is the link to the Aodbe article that contains a download link to the unistaller. The uninstaller should be run prior to installing a different version of Adobe Flash Player. Link:

    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html

  8. Q said on December 10, 2009 at 9:32 am
    Reply

    Martin,

    This article, including the title, is misleading and misrepresents.

    The article represents installation of Adobe Flash, but gives information that seems should apply to Adobe Flash Player instead.

  9. Teddy said on December 10, 2009 at 4:44 am
    Reply

    I installed the latest version via Secunia PSI link and it didn’t include DLM. Thanks for the tip I’ll be sure to make sure this trash doesn’t get installed.

  10. Jojo said on December 9, 2009 at 11:09 pm
    Reply

    The easiest way to get the updates for me is via the Filehippo RSS feed. Here are the links for Flash IE and non-IE downloads:

    http://www.filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_ie/6693/
    http://www.filehippo.com/download_flashplayer_firefox/6694/

  11. Punchy said on December 9, 2009 at 9:43 pm
    Reply

    I too have great disdain for the additional bloat that DLM adds, as such I have been using the “click here to download” link for sometime now.

    But…please be aware that using that link will not always get you the lastest build. Prior to the last security updates, it provided a version that needed an additional 26MB update.

    So, if you are going to ignore the DLM (and please do), just make sure you check for updates after your installation is complete to ensure you do have the latest version.

    Punchy

    1. Martin said on December 9, 2009 at 10:19 pm
      Reply

      Thanks for the tip Punchy, will update the original article.

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