Microsoft released a Flash-removal update. What happens if I install it?

After installing Microsoft's Flash-removal update, legacy Articulate apps will stop working, and Flash-only courses won't load.

On October 27, 2020, Microsoft released update KB4577586, which removes the Flash Player from supported versions of Windows, including Windows 10 and Windows 8. Although the official end of Flash isn't until December 31, 2020, Microsoft released the update early so customers can test it in their environments.

The Flash-removal update is optional until the end of 2020. It isn't available via Windows Update, so it won't automatically install on your computers. It can only be installed manually via the Microsoft Update Catalog. If you choose to install the update, we recommend creating a restore point first in case you need to go back.

After installing the Flash-removal update:

• Storyline 3 and Articulate 360 (which includes Storyline 360 and Studio 360) will continue to work since they don't have Flash dependencies.
• Storyline 1, Storyline 2, Studio '09, and Studio '13 will prompt you to install the Flash Player, which won't be possible.
• Storyline 2 will still open, but it won't be fully operable.
• Storyline 1, Studio '09, and Studio '13 won't work at all.
• Flash-only courses won't load in your web browser. HTML5 content will continue to work as expected.

For more information on how the end of Flash affects Articulate apps and courses, check out this article.