How to Fix Chrome Couldn’t Load Plugin Error

Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers in the world. A lot of people (including you) might be spending a good chunk of time gaining information from the internet or doing work. Well, the browser is fine for most people, but there are some people getting the “couldn’t load plugin” error on Google Chrome. Probably, you are one of them. To make things easier for you, we’ve created this guide to help you fix the couldn’t load plugin error on Google Chrome.

Google has already filled the Chrome browser with lots of useful features such as easy translation, spelling checker, search bar, chrome extensions support, tabbed browsing, and more. To add more features, we use plugins. Simply put, it is a piece of software that adds additional features. The couldn’t load plugin error you are getting on your Chrome browser usually pops up when some of the browser’s features are not working properly. The error message usually appears because of the flash player plugins. Read the complete guide to stop getting this irritating error message.

How to Fix Couldn’t Load Plugin Error on Google Chrome

Solution 1: Make Sure Your Chrome Browser Is Updated

The first thing you need to check is the current version of Google Chrome installed on your computer. You need to make sure that the browser has the latest version.

Here’s how to update Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three-dot menu button on the upper-right side.
3. Go to Help > About Google Chrome.
4. Google Chrome will automatically start checking for new updates. Wait for a few seconds. Either you will get the option to install a new version of the browser or you’ll see Google Chrome is up to date on your screen.

After you’ve updated Google Chrome, close the app and open it again. Now, check if the problem is solved.

Solution 2: Check if All the Chrome Components Are Updated

After you’ve updated Google Chrome, we need to check the Chrome components. In the chrome search bar, type chrome://components and press the Enter button. You’ll see all the installed components. Check for a new update for all components and if it’s available, install it.

After updating Google Chrome and its components, if the error message pops up, try the next solution.

Solution 3: Delete PepperFlash Folder

You might be already familiar with Adobe Flash Player. In January 2021, Google removed support for Adobe Flash Player in the Chrome browser. But, PepperFlash Player has taken that place which is fairly new and is maintained by Google. Many users were able to fix the couldn’t load plugin error by deleting the PepperFlash folder.

Here are the steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. In the search box, type run and hit the Enter button.
3. Type %localappdata%  and press the Enter button.
4. You’ll reach the Local folder. Now go to Google > Chrome > User Data.
5. Locate the PepperFlash folder and right-click on it.
6.  Select Delete to remove the folder.
7. Close the Chrome browser (if it is opened).

After deleting the PepperFlash folder, check if the problem is solved.

Solution 4: Change the pepflashplayer Filename

The issue gets resolved sometimes by renaming the pepflashplayer file. You can locate this file in the Google Chrome installation directory. Here’s a path to that file: File Explorer > Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (or Program Files (x86) > Google > Chrome > Application > 103.0.5060.66.

[Note: 103.0.5060.66 is the version of my Google Chrome. This might be different on your computer.]

In the directory, find the pepflashplayer.dll file and rename it to pepflashplayerX.dll. Now, restart Google Chrome and check if the error message still shows up.

Solution 5: Check if Flash Is Blocked on Chrome

You need to make sure that Flash is not blocked on the Chrome browser. To locate this option, type chrome://settings/content in the address bar and press the Enter button. Tap on Flash and turn on the toggle next to Ask first (recommended). Also, remove the blocked sites if you want to use Flash on that site.

Solution 6: Run SFC Scan

The “couldn’t load plugin” error might appears in Chrome due to some corrupted files. You need to run System File Checker (SFC) on your Windows PC to repair any corrupted files.

Here’s how to run SFC scan:

1. In the search box, type Command Prompt, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
2. After the command window is opened, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

The system scanning process will begin. It may take some time to finish. Once done, reboot your computer, open Google Chrome, and check if the error message stops appearing.

I understand, getting “couldn’t load plugin” error message multiple times can be fraustrating. You should apply all the solutions one by one and see which one spells out success for you. In case, none of the methods work for you, reinstall Google Chrome to have the best browsing experience.