Adobe Flash is still widespread, and more and more sites are supporting HTML5. At the moment, you’ll only need Silverlight installed if you want to watch Netflix in Firefox - Firefox is working on adding the required “encrypted media extensions” (DRM) code to the browser so it can work. Silverlight is vanishing, too - Netflix just dropped the Silverlight requirement and now uses HTML5 video. RealPlayer, QuickTime, Windows Media Player, Java applets, and the DivX Web Player have vanished from modern websites. Other browser playback plug-ins are vanishing.

If you click their download links, they’ll download garbage software onto your computer. Many malicious sites also display “you need to update Java” or “you need to update Flash” scams. You’ll never need to download codecs separately again.īe sure you always get Flash, your browser, VLC, or any other software from the official site. Use it to play back media files you download. Always download it from the official site at - not via third-party sites that bundle it with junkware.

VLC for Playing Downloaded Files: VLC media player is a single piece of software that can handle nearly any type of video or audio file you throw at it.

You’ll never need to download a codec to extend your browser’s media playback support - it’s all integrated into the browser itself. Just be sure you’re using a modern web browser - no ancient versions of Internet Explorer, please. Modern versions of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera all have this integrated.

A Modern Browser: Modern browsers support HTML5 video playback of H.264 videos and other media content.

if you’re using Chrome, Adobe Flash Player is built-in, so you don’t have to even install it separately. Always get it from the official site at - don’t click strange links on websites if they say you need to download it or install an update.

Adobe Flash: Adobe’s Flash Player plug-in is still used by many websites for video playback.

You don’t need to download various player plug-ins and codecs while browsing the web, whether you’re playing back videos on a web page or playing back video files you download to your computer. RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know Your Web Browser Could Do Yet But those bad old days are behind us, and that isn’t the way it works anymore.

Codec pack for windows media player