Flash

The BBC is moving, from 2008 onwards, to providing all its television content through Adobe Flash (once Macromedia Flash). This is a program, called a plug-in or Add-On, that allows BBC television and radio programmes to play in your web browser. If you do not have Flash correctly installed then you will not be able to access any BBC iPlayer content. This page tells you how to install Flash. The instructions are for Microsoft Internet Explorer only.

You must install Flash for Internet Explorer not Flash for Firefox - they are separate things.

How to install Flash

If you need to install Flash for Internet Explorer you need to and run a Flash installer program from Adobe. It installs something called the Flash ActiveX Add-On. Download the installer program from the link below, then close your browser and run the downloaded program, then restart your browser.

• Install Flash Player 10.3 - Flash installer for Microsoft Internet Explorer (ActiveX)

Note that this is a copy of the Flash ActiveX installer program from September 2011, which will probably not be the latest version in a month's time. For the latest version, try to find the installer on the Adobe Flash website.

You can test your installation by going to this YouTube link: if you hear Alasdair speaking, your installation worked. All you have to do is go to the page. YouTube Flash Test.

Fixing Flash if the installer does not work

Many people have problems getting Flash to work on their machines. Here are some solutions you can try if you run into difficulties.

• First, download and run this Flash Player Uninstall program from Adobe. A restart of your machine would not hurt. Then try installing again with the program linked above. More from Adobe.
• If that does not work, try uninstalling Flash, then opening Internet Explorer and deleting your cookies. Start the browser, then select the Tools menu (Alt and T) and Internet Options. On this first General tab is a button labelled Delete (Alt and D) - press that. In the new Delete Browsing History window press the Delete cookies button (Alt and O.) Restart Internet Explorer and try installing again.
• Finally, the Adobe help page for helping with Flash installation is here: Troubleshooting Adobe Flash Player for Windows. Good luck!