In its announcement, Adobe tapped its partners (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Mozilla) to discuss how they will continue to move away from Flash. The intent was clear, to show developers that it is possible to move to a more modern format. One of the party lines from all the companies is the legacy of Flash. Microsoft tows that line by praising the software, while recognizing it is very much a time and a place platform. As such, Microsoft Edge is already modernizing and will phase out Flash entirely over the next three years. The company says Flash paved a way for the modern internet, delivering video, gaming, animations, websites, and other content. However, Microsoft Edge has adopted HTML5 and the format is now the standard for all modern browsers. Microsoft says HTML5 provides the performance, security, and battery life that Flash cannot. Of course, this is hardly breaking news, Flash has been in decline for years. Indeed, Microsoft has already started moving Edge away from the format.
Moving Away from Flash
Late last year, the browser stopped playing Flash content automatically. While Microsoft Edge still supports Flash, users must choose to turn it on if they want to see Flash-based content. The Edge team announced a roadmap for phasing out the format, starting with its current model:
Through the end of 2017 and into 2018, Microsoft Edge will continue to ask users for permission to run Flash on most sites the first time the site is visited, and will remember the user’s preference on subsequent visits. Internet Explorer will continue to allow Flash with no special permissions required during this time. In mid to late 2018, we will update Microsoft Edge to require permission for Flash to be run each session. Internet Explorer will continue to allow Flash for all sites in 2018. In mid to late 2019, we will disable Flash by default in both Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. Users will be able to re-enable Flash in both browsers. When re-enabled, Microsoft Edge will continue to require approval for Flash on a site-by-site basis. By the end of 2020, we will remove the ability to run Adobe Flash in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer across all supported versions of Microsoft Windows. Users will no longer have any ability to enable or run Flash.
Adobe’s other partners, such as Google and Apple (both further along in their killing of Flash than Microsoft) are following similar programs.
