Microsoft Steps To Remove Adobe Flash From Windows

By 2021, Adobe Flash Player will be completely gone from PCs.

Adobe will stop its Flash Player update service in December 2020 and will disable the plug-in on January 12, but Microsoft is responsible for the step-by-step process of removing the software from Windows PCs.  Because Adobe has no plans to issue Flash player updates or security patches after End-of-Life (EOL), Adobe recommends users remove Flash from their personal computers for system security.  Of course, users can manually uninstall Flash using the steps Adobe posted on their website.  However, Microsoft has plans to remove Flash from all Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 PCs this year. This is a plan that does not depend on user action.

October 2020, Adobe Flash Player Permanent Removal Update Assigned

On October 26th, Microsoft has assigned the 'Update to Remove Adobe Flash Player' in the Microsoft Update Catalog. This update, also identified as KB4577586, is a component of Windows OS devices and permanently removes Adobe Flash Player.

Users can select the appropriate OS version of KB4577586, then download and apply it to their PC. Microsoft noted that the update only removes the Flash player installed by Windows. "If you manually installed Adobe Flash Player from another source, it won't be removed," Microsoft warned in its support document.

Early 2021, KB4577586 available for optional download

Microsoft offers KB4577586 as an optional download for Windows Update and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) platforms. After several months, Microsoft changes KB4577586 to be recommended by Windows Update and WSUS. Recommended updates may be automatically downloaded and installed depending on the Windows Update settings.

Summer 2021, included in the cumulative update and monthly rollup 

An update to remove Adobe Flash Player, KB4577586, will be included in the Summer and in Monthly Cumulative Updates and Monthly Rollups. In other words, KB4577586 is automatically installed and activated, permanently removing the flash player from the Windows system.   

On the other hand, for Mac users using Flash Player, you need to manually remove the plug-in by following the steps.