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What does ‘Chrome error couldn’t load plugin’ mean?
The Chrome error could not load the plugin is caused by a conflict between the plugin and Chrome. A Chrome setting may lead to this issue, preventing Flash Player from functioning correctly.
What Causes Chrome error couldn’t load plugin issue?
Our analysis of the reasons why the error occurs led us to conclude that these must be the most crucial factors.
The current browser is outdated: In some cases, you may need to use a newer browser since yours may be outdated and may not support the latest developments in internet technology. To fix the Couldn’t Load Plugin Issue, please make sure your browser is up-to-date.
Components that are outdated: If you have not updated certain components of your browser with regular updates, certain browser features might stop working. Therefore, we recommend you update the browser’s outdated components as well if you are experiencing Chrome Couldn’t Load Plugin Issues.
Cache has been corrupted: Due to a failed storage drive, some cache might have built up in the browser over time. In order to find out whether the Couldn’t Load Plugin Issue can be resolved by clearing and regenerating the cache, we recommend that you try it.
Damaged Sector: This error message may appear if there are damaged sectors on your disk or in the registry of your system. In order to check and identify any errors, we recommend that you run a scan.
Presence of Flash Plugins: Many plugins that rely on flash content have slowed down and died along with Adobe Flash Player. So please check whether Flash plugins are being used, and remove them.
Installation error: You are experiencing Adobe Flash Player Couldn’t Load Plugin Chrome issues because the browser might not be installed properly on your computer. Therefore, it is our recommendation that you reinstall your browser and then see if the issue is fixed.
After we have taken you through nearly all of the triggers associated with this issue, we can now start working on the fix.
What should you do to Chrome error couldn’t load plugin issue?
Here are a few Popular and Easy fixes:
- Cleaning up the cache
- Third-party plugins need to be disabled or removed
- Removing PepperFlash from the computer
Below you will find our step-by-step walkthrough solutions.
Fix 1: Cleaning up the cache
There may be an error message “Chrome error could not load plugin” if Google Chrome’s cache is incorrect, which may interfere with plugins. Caching can be cleared to resolve this problem. You can follow the instructions below or watch it on YouTube.
1. Enter chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in the address bar of Google Chrome.
2. Select “the beginning of time” under “Clear the following items from.”
3. Select all the checkboxes under “Clear the following items from.”.
4. Once you have done that, click “Clear Browsing Data.”
Fix 2: Install the latest browser update
Under the “Close” button on the top right side of your browser, click “Customize and Control Google Chrome”.
Your browser should have a “Help” option or an “About” page
Install any updates available for your browser. Otherwise, your browser and version will be stated as being up-to-date.
Click the “Update” button when you see it appear on the screen and then wait for the process to complete
Check if you still receive the error, if it persists, please reload your browser.
Fix 3: Third-party plugins need to be disabled or removed
You might also get the “Chrome error couldn’t load plugin” if your plugin is corrupt or incompatible with your operating system. Uninstall or disable any extensions you no longer need. You can also watch it here on YouTube if the error still persists.
1. You can search for extensions in Chrome by typing chrome://extensions/ into the address bar.
2. Disable the checkbox.
3. Remove by clicking the trash can icon.
Fix 4: Removing PepperFlash from the computer
PepperFlash could also be responsible for the “Chrome error could not load plugin”. This is why, if you have PepperFlash, you will need to remove or rename it, since it might only run in Adobe Flash Player.
1. Hold down the Windows key and press R.
2. To enter user data, paste “%localappdata%/Google/Chrome/User Data” (without quotes) into the Run window and press Enter.
3. PepperFlash folder should be deleted or renamed once it is found.
4. Ensure the error does not persist.
Fix 5: Check and Update Chrome Components
1. The best way to find out if any updates are available is to use the search bar and type “chrome://components/” then click on “Check For Updates” for each component. Then updates should be “Installed” immediately if they appear.
2. As soon as the task is completed, restart your computer, open it and perform the same operation again.
Fix 6: The pepflashplayer.dll file should be renamed
1. You can open the “File Explorer” window by pressing “Window + E” together on your keyboard. From there, you can navigate to “This PC”.
2. Locate the file “pepflashplayer.dll” under the folder “PepperFlash” following the path above
C:\Program Files (or Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\(version of your Google Chrome)\PepperFlash
3. Select “Rename” from the context menu by right-clicking the “pepflashplayer.dll” file.
4. After resetting your browser, make sure you are still facing the error or not.
Fix 7: Perform an SFC and DISM scan
1. By pressing “Window + S”, you can open up the “Command Prompt” window by typing “cmd” in the search bar on your keyboard. Whenever a permission prompt appears, simply click on “YES”.
2. You can type “sfc /scannow” or paste it into the command prompt window. Do not forget to remove the quotation marks before sfc and /scannow.
3. Once this command has been run on your system, press “Enter”.
4. Using the command prompt, type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” and then press the Enter key.
5. In the final step, reboot your system and see if the error has been removed.
Fix 8: Turn off Adobe Shockwave Flash
1. Open up the Task Manager on your keyboard by pressing the combination of “Ctrl, Shift, Esc” and in this window search for “Shockwave Flash, Plugin Broker: Shockwave Flash, or Plugin: Shockwave Flash” (you may have any of these names).
2. Once you have selected “End Process”, restart your browser and see if Chrome is no longer unable to load plugins.
Fix 9: Check if Chrome supports Flash
Click on “Flash” (the jigsaw piece icon) in the “Content Section” by typing or pasting “chrome://settings/content” in the address bar.
Click on the toggle switch to enable the “Ask First (Recommended)” option, if not, then click that toggle switch and restart your browser.
Fix 10: Change the settings in Adobe Reader
1. Enter “Adobe Reader” in the search bar by pressing the “Window + S” keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
2. To open the “Preferences Window” use the “Ctrl + K” key combination and select “Internet” from the left menu pane.
3. To disable the “Display PDF Documents In The Web Browser” option if it is already “ON” or vice versa, click the “Display PDF Documents In The Web Browser” option.
4. After you click “OK” your settings will be saved in the browser, and you will need to restart your browser.
Fix 11: Turn off all Flash plugins
1. Under the “Close” button on the top right side of your browser, go to the “Customize and Control Google Chrome” menu.
2. Choose “Extensions” from the context menu of your browser when you hover over the “More Tools” option.
3. Restart your computer after you have “disabled” or “removed” any plug-ins associated with “Adobe Flash” in your plugins list.
4. Furthermore, you can disable the “PPAPI Flash” by clicking on “Details”. Check to see if the error has been fixed by restarting your browser.
Fix 12: Turn off PDF isolation
1. You can enter or paste chrome://flags/ in your browser’s address bar and press Enter.
2. Select “Disable” from the three options below “PDF Isolation” and click the drop-down menu ahead.
3. You can now observe if it helps in getting rid of the error after it has been disabled.
Fix 13: Reinstalling Windows
1. On a USB flash drive, download Windows Media Creation Tool ver1803.
2. When the error pops up on the screen, restart your computer and don’t click “OK”.
3. From the USB flash drive, click the “Media Creation Tool” to “Run”.
4. You must click “Accept” to agree to the license. Once the license is accepted, you can create an installation CD, DVD, or ISO file for a different PC.
5. Please select the “Language” you wish to use and select “Windows 10” as the “Edition” and then “64 bit (x64)” for “Architecture.”
6. The next step is to select the “ISO File” option. Click “Save” to begin downloading your file. When you’re finished, click “Finish” to close.
7. Using the same USB, download and install Rufus 3.13.
8. Simply double-click Rufus and click on the “Browse” button until you locate the “Media Creation Tool”.
9. Lastly, follow the instructions to install Windows 10 cleanly and check if you are no longer getting the error after the installation process is completed.
Fix 14: Adobe Flash NPAPI Plugin should be uninstalled
1. Enter “Control Panel” in the search bar in the Start menu. Click on it from the search results to open it.
2. Go to “Programs > Programs and Features” in the corresponding section.
3. Click the right-click button on “Adobe Flash NPAPI” to uninstall it. Scroll through the list of installed programs and find “Adobe Flash NPAPI.”
4. Then “Restart” your browser to see if the error has been resolved. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the program completely.
Fix 15: Reduce the number of tabs you open
You may be able to avoid facing the could not load plugin google chrome pdf error by closing unnecessary tabs in your browser or simply opening fewer tabs.
We hope you’ll be able to resolve the error easily using the detailed fixes listed above, but if it persists, you can Contact Us here and we’ll look into it further.
