Allow Flash content in Chrome 69 running via chromedriver

Question

Does anybody know how to enable Flash plugin in Chrome 69. I use chromedriver 2.41 with java selenium bindings. I've tried with

prefs.put("profile.default_content_setting_values.plugins", 1);
prefs.put("profile.content_settings.plugin_whitelist.adobe-flash-player", 1);
prefs.put("profile.content_settings.exceptions.plugins.*,*.per_resource.adobe-flash-player", 1);

but with no luck. I've also tried to compare chrome profile preferences with disallowed/allowed flash for particular site and then tried with:

            Map<String, Object> site = new HashMap<>();
            Map<String, Object> values = new HashMap<>();
            Map<String, Object> setting = new HashMap<>();
            setting.put("flashPreviouslyChanged", true);
            values.put("last_modified", "13180613213099316");
            values.put("setting", setting);
            site.put("http://my.site,*", values);
            prefs.put("profile.content_settings.exceptions.flash_data", site);

but it won't work as well.

I've also tried to run with profile specified via

options.addArguments("user-data-dir=" + profileDir);

but since this white list setting becomes 'ephemeral' in Chrome 69 it also won't work.

Is there any method to run my automation in Chrome with flash support?

Have you done some research? Like https://www.ghacks.net/2018/08/24/chrome-69-makes-flash-use-annoying/ ? — Nic3500, Sep 05 '18 at 12:46
I've read this, but in terms of test automation how can I deal with it? The app which I want to test uses flash as a shell for html5 content, so I can't login to it. — doctordrue, Sep 05 '18 at 12:55

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 10 '18 at 08:51

3

Thanks everyone for answers.

I finally have found the solution. In order to enable flash progrmatically since Chrome 69 we have to do 2 things:

Disable Ephemeral Flash Permissions (to enable list of allowed for Flash sites) and
Add all sites to that list.

See the following code on Java:

ChromeOptions options = new ChromeOptions();
// disable ephemeral flash permissions flag
options.addArguments("--disable-features=EnableEphemeralFlashPermission");
Map<String, Object> prefs = new HashMap<>();
// Enable flash for all sites for Chrome 69
prefs.put("profile.content_settings.exceptions.plugins.*,*.setting", 1);

options.setExperimentalOption("prefs", prefs);
nestedDriver = new ChromeDriver(options);

answered Sep 10 '18 at 08:51

doctordrue

244
1
3
6

any idea why this is not working for me? I'm still getting the prompt for the "enable/install flash". – Morta1 Sep 23 '18 at 19:09
This helped us a lot, even we are not using chromedriver for our testing. We needed the third step: upgrade flash to 31. – marie Oct 11 '18 at 08:26
Even I am facing the same issue want to know what is the nestedDriver? – user3538483 Jan 08 '19 at 10:11
EnableEphemeralFlashPermission can no longer be disabled (since Chrome 71). – Johno Crawford Mar 23 '19 at 09:48

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 19 '18 at 10:41

Given the flag --disable-features=EnableEphemeralFlashPermission has been removed in Chrome 71 which severely cripples Flash test automation I would like to share our solution.

public class FlashPolicyHelper {

    private final ChromeDriver driver;

    public FlashPolicyHelper(ChromeDriver driver) {
        this.driver = driver;
    }

    public FlashPolicyHelper addSite(String site) {
        this.driver.get("chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site=" + site);
        WebElement root1 = driver.findElement(By.tagName("settings-ui"));
        WebElement shadowRoot1 = expandRootElement(root1);
        WebElement root2 = shadowRoot1.findElement(getByIdentifier("id=container"));
        WebElement main = root2.findElement(getByIdentifier("id=main"));
        WebElement shadowRoot3 = expandRootElement(main);
        WebElement shadowRoot4 = shadowRoot3.findElement(getByIdentifier("class=showing-subpage"));
        WebElement shadowRoot5 = expandRootElement(shadowRoot4);
        WebElement shadowRoot6 = shadowRoot5.findElement(getByIdentifier("id=advancedPage"));
        WebElement shadowRoot7 = shadowRoot6.findElement(By.tagName("settings-privacy-page"));
        WebElement shadowRoot8 = expandRootElement(shadowRoot7);
        WebElement shadowRoot9 = shadowRoot8.findElement(getByIdentifier("id=pages"));
        WebElement shadowRoot10 = shadowRoot9.findElement(By.tagName("settings-subpage"));
        WebElement shadowRoot11 = shadowRoot10.findElement(By.tagName("site-details"));
        WebElement shadowRoot12 = expandRootElement(shadowRoot11);
        WebElement shadowRoot13 = shadowRoot12.findElement(By.id("plugins"));
        WebElement shadowRoot14 = expandRootElement(shadowRoot13);
        new Select(shadowRoot14.findElement(By.id("permission"))).selectByValue("allow");
        return this;
    }

    private By getByIdentifier(String identifier) {
        String[] identifiers = identifier.split("=");

        return identifiers[0].equals("id") ? By.id(identifiers[1]) :
                By.className(identifiers[1]);
    }

    private WebElement expandRootElement(WebElement element) {
        return (WebElement) driver.executeScript("return arguments[0].shadowRoot",element);
    }
}

The helper should be called after instantiating the ChromeDriver.

 driver = new ChromeDriver(options);
 new FlashPolicyHelper(driver).addSite("https://your.site").addSite("https://another.site");

There is a solution to allow Flash using chrome policies: https://www.chromium.org/administrators/policy-list-3#PluginsAllowedForUrls . See my answer here for details for Windows: https://stackoverflow.com/a/53707777/10320142 — doctordrue, Dec 19 '18 at 13:20
Unfortunately Chrome policies are not an option for us but I'm sure that would help someone. — Johno Crawford, Dec 20 '18 at 11:04

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 08 '18 at 13:20

2

Follow these steps:

Input this URL in Chrome: chrome://flags/
On search inputbox, digit: ephemeral flash
Choose "disabled" option.

This will not ask to run Flash Player for further sessions in Chrome 69.

answered Sep 08 '18 at 13:20

Rodolpho Silva

29
3

2

No longer works. Google removed the 'ephemeral flash' option in Chrome 71. – Chris Dec 16 '18 at 18:32

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 09 '19 at 07:47

Python3 version for Chrome 74. Converted from the Java version of @JohnoCrawford above.

from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import Select

def add_flash_site(driver, web_url):
    def expand_root_element(element):
        return driver.execute_script("return arguments[0].shadowRoot", element)

    driver.get("chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site=" + web_url)
    root1 = driver.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "settings-ui")
    shadow_root1 = expand_root_element(root1)
    root2 = shadow_root1.find_element(By.ID, "container")
    root3 = root2.find_element(By.ID, "main")
    shadow_root3 = expand_root_element(root3)
    root4 = shadow_root3.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "showing-subpage")
    shadow_root4 = expand_root_element(root4)
    root5 = shadow_root4.find_element(By.ID, "advancedPage")
    root6 = root5.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "settings-privacy-page")
    shadow_root6 = expand_root_element(root6)
    root7 = shadow_root6.find_element(By.ID, "pages")
    root8 = root7.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "settings-subpage")
    root9 = root8.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "site-details")
    shadow_root9 = expand_root_element(root9)
    root10 = shadow_root9.find_element(By.ID, "plugins")
    shadow_root10 = expand_root_element(root10)
    root11 = shadow_root10.find_element(By.ID, "permission")
    Select(root11).select_by_value("allow")

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 08 '18 at 01:52

Chrome 69 recently released does not allow sites (URLs) to be permanently added (enabled) via chrome://settings/content/flash as was the case for previous versions of Flash Player. However, a URL can be temporarily enabled for the current sesison by clicking on the lock icon to the left of the location bar, then choose Site Settings, and then enable Flash Player.

This policy forces users of Flash Player to re-configure their permission settings every session, which makes it less convenient to use Flash Player. That is apparently by design.

Fortunately, the Microsoft Edge browser does not have this policy. Like Chrome, Edge runs Flash Player. However, unlike Chrome, it persists the permission settings and does not inconvenience the user.

majia29 · Answer 6 · 2019-03-14T08:53:37.300

thanks for @JohnoCrawford, i wrote a python code by referring to his java code.

from urllib import quote_plus as url_quoteplus
from urlparse import urlsplit
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By as WebBy
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import Select as WebSelect

    def allow_flash(driver, url):
        def _base_url(url):
            if url.find("://")==-1:
                url = "http://{}".format(url)
            urls = urlsplit(url)
            return "{}://{}".format(urls.scheme, urls.netloc)

        def _shadow_root(driver, element):
            return driver.execute_script("return arguments[0].shadowRoot", element)

        base_url = _base_url(url)
        driver.get("chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site={}".format(url_quoteplus(base_url)))

        root1 = driver.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "settings-ui")
        shadow_root1 = _shadow_root(driver, root1)
        root2 = shadow_root1.find_element(WebBy.ID, "container")
        root3 = root2.find_element(WebBy.ID, "main")
        shadow_root3 = _shadow_root(driver, root3)
        root4 = shadow_root3.find_element(WebBy.CLASS_NAME, "showing-subpage")
        shadow_root4 = _shadow_root(driver, root4)
        root5 = shadow_root4.find_element(WebBy.ID, "advancedPage")
        root6 = root5.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "settings-privacy-page")
        shadow_root6 = _shadow_root(driver, root6)
        root7 = shadow_root6.find_element(WebBy.ID, "pages")
        root8 = root7.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "settings-subpage")
        root9 = root8.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "site-details")
        shadow_root9 = _shadow_root(driver, root9)
        root10 = shadow_root9.find_element(WebBy.ID, "plugins")  # Flash
        shadow_root10 = _shadow_root(driver, root10)
        root11 = shadow_root10.find_element(WebBy.ID, "permission")
        WebSelect(root11).select_by_value("allow")

score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 27 '19 at 09:21

Since I saw many methods here is not work for Chrome 71, I would like to share the solution in C# that I am using:

ChromeOptions chromeOptions = new ChromeOptions();
List<string> allowFlashUrls = new List<string>() {
    "*.testing1.com",
    "*.testing2.com",
};
chromeOptions.AddUserProfilePreference("profile.managed_plugins_allowed_for_urls", config.ChromeConfig.AllowFlashUrls);
ChromeDriver chromeDriver = new ChromeDriver(chromeOptions);
// Then run your test using chromeDriver

By setting profile.managed_plugins_allowed_for_urls will force Chrome the allow run Flash in the domain declare in allowFlashUrls list. Not tested but it should allow Flash to all site by adding http://* and https:// to allow Flash list.

JeffH · Answer 8 · 2018-09-06T18:31:20.287

I handled this by going into the settings for the website before I ran my test and doing selenium actions such as below:

     public void SetFlashForURL (string yourWebsiteURL) {
 driver.Navigate().GoToUrl(string.Format("chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site={0}", yourWebsiteURL));
                    Thread.Sleep(1000);
                    Actions actions = new Actions(driver);
                    if (yourWebsiteURL.Contains("https"))
                    {
                        actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                        actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                        actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                        actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                    }
                    actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                    actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                    actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Tab);
                    actions.SendKeys(OpenQA.Selenium.Keys.Down);
                    actions.Build().Perform(); 
    }

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Sep 12 '18 at 07:36

My solution for C#

var chromeOptions = new ChromeOptions();
chromeOptions.AddArgument("--disable-features=EnableEphemeralFlashPermission");
chromeOptions.AddUserProfilePreference(
          "profile.content_settings.exceptions.plugins.*,*.per_resource.adobe-flash-player", 1);
var capability = (DesiredCapabilities)chromeOptions.ToCapabilities();

Jorge Augusto · Answer 10 · 2018-09-20T22:37:42.030

0

Using @RodolphoSilva answer with links:

1 - Input link: chrome://flags/#enable-ephemeral-flash-permission

2 - Change to "Disabled"

3 - Click "RELAUNCH NOW" button

4 - Input link: chrome://settings/content/flash?search=flash

5 - Now you can add or block sites to use flash

@RodolphoSilva - Many thanks for your great answer!

edited Sep 20 '18 at 22:37

answered Sep 20 '18 at 21:34

Jorge Augusto

1
3

No longer works. The enable-ephemeral-flash option was removed in Chrome 71. – Chris Dec 16 '18 at 18:34

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Oct 08 '18 at 16:37

In case anyone else needs it, here's how to do the same thing in a Protractor config:

capabilities: {
  browserName: 'chrome',
  chromeOptions: {
    args: ['--disable-features=EnableEphemeralFlashPermission'],
    prefs: {
      "profile.content_settings.exceptions.plugins.*,*.per_resource.adobe-flash-player": 1,
    }
  },
}

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Nov 01 '18 at 05:52

0

    ChromeOptions options = new ChromeOptions();
    options.addArguments("--disable-features=EnableEphemeralFlashPermission");
    Map<String, Object> prefs = new HashMap<>();
    prefs.put("profile.content_settings.exceptions.plugins.*,*.per_resource.adobe-flash-player",1);
    options.setExperimentalOption("prefs", prefs);
    WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver(options);
    driver.get("some url");

answered Nov 01 '18 at 05:52

陈俊高

1

1

please add some brief that what you did special with the cod? – Farhana Naaz Ansari Nov 01 '18 at 06:04

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Oct 03 '19 at 07:11

Enable flash in chromedriver using robotframework

Credits: @BaiJiFeiLong

Save following code as flash_helper.py

from robot.libraries.BuiltIn import BuiltIn
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By as WebBy
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import Select as WebSelect

def allow_flash(url):

  seleniumlib = BuiltIn().get_library_instance('SeleniumLibrary')
  driver = seleniumlib.driver

  def _shadow_root(driver, element):
    return driver.execute_script("return arguments[0].shadowRoot", element)

  driver.get("chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site={}".format(url))

  root1 = driver.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "settings-ui")
  shadow_root1 = _shadow_root(driver, root1)
  root2 = shadow_root1.find_element(WebBy.ID, "container")
  root3 = root2.find_element(WebBy.ID, "main")
  shadow_root3 = _shadow_root(driver, root3)
  root4 = shadow_root3.find_element(WebBy.CLASS_NAME, "showing-subpage")
  shadow_root4 = _shadow_root(driver, root4)
  root5 = shadow_root4.find_element(WebBy.ID, "advancedPage")
  root6 = root5.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "settings-privacy-page")
  shadow_root6 = _shadow_root(driver, root6)
  root7 = shadow_root6.find_element(WebBy.ID, "pages")
  root8 = root7.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "settings-subpage")
  root9 = root8.find_element(WebBy.TAG_NAME, "site-details")
  shadow_root9 = _shadow_root(driver, root9)
  root10 = shadow_root9.find_element(WebBy.ID, "plugins")  # Flash
  shadow_root10 = _shadow_root(driver, root10)
  root11 = shadow_root10.find_element(WebBy.ID, "permission")
  WebSelect(root11).select_by_value("allow")

Use above method as keyword in robotframework

save following code as test.robot

*** Settings ***
Library    SeleniumLibrary
Library    flash_helper.py

*** Test Case ***
Allow Flash In Chrome
    Open Browser    https://www.google.com    chrome

    # go to chrome settings and enable flash
    ${CURRENT_URL}    Get Location
    Allow Flash    ${CURRENT_URL}

    # revert to previous page
    Go To   ${CURRENT_URL}

   # now Flash is enabled in chrome!!

score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Apr 15 '20 at 05:21

Since EnableEphemeralFlashPermission can no longer be disabled in Chrome 71+ versions, here's a slightly modified version of @JohnoCrawford code that works for Chrome 81:

def add_flash_site(driver, web_url):
    def expand_root_element(element):
        return driver.execute_script("return arguments[0].shadowRoot", element)

    driver.get("chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site=" + web_url)
    root1 = driver.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "settings-ui")
    shadow_root1 = expand_root_element(root1)
    root2 = shadow_root1.find_element(By.ID, "container")
    root3 = root2.find_element(By.ID, "main")
    shadow_root3 = expand_root_element(root3)
    root4 = shadow_root3.find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "showing-subpage")
    shadow_root4 = expand_root_element(root4)
    root5 = shadow_root4.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "settings-privacy-page")
    shadow_root5 = expand_root_element(root5)
    root6 = shadow_root5.find_element(By.ID, "pages")
    root7 = root6.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "settings-subpage")
    root8 = root7.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "site-details")
    shadow_root8 = expand_root_element(root8)
    root9 = shadow_root8.find_element(By.ID, "plugins")
    shadow_root9 = expand_root_element(root9)
    root10 = shadow_root9.find_element(By.ID, "permission")
    Select(root10).select_by_value("allow")

score 0 · Answer 15 · answered Aug 20 '20 at 05:39

I have the same answer as user BaiJiFeiLong

but i found that I had to change the line:

root5 = shadow_root4.find_element(By.ID, "advancedPage")

to:

root5 = shadow_root4.find_element(By.ID, "basicPage")

Because the original line was returning NoSuchElement error.

Allow Flash content in Chrome 69 running via chromedriver

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