Microsoft Silverlight may not work in recent versions of Google Chrome

This article helps you work around the problem that occurs when you use Google Chrome (version 42.0 or later) to access a website that runs Microsoft Silverlight.

Applies to:   Windows
Original KB number:   3058254

Symptoms

When you use Google Chrome (version 42.0 or later versions) to access a website that runs Microsoft Silverlight, you see that some content is missing or that the Install Microsoft Silverlight badge is displayed. When you reinstall Silverlight, the issue still occurs.

Note

This issue does not occur in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari. These browsers still support Silverlight content.

Cause

This issue occurs because these versions of Chrome block Netscape Plugin API (NPAPI) plugins from being displayed in the browser. Silverlight is an NPAPI plugin.

Workaround

On Chrome version 45 or a later version of Chrome, there is no workaround for this issue. You must use a browser that supports Silverlight content to access a Silverlight page.

To work around this issue on versions 42 to 44 of Chrome, follow these steps:

  1. On the address bar in Chrome, type chrome://flags/#enable-npapi.
  2. In the Enable NPAPI Mac, Windows box, click Enable.
  3. Exit and then restart Chrome.
  4. Reopen the Silverlight page.
  5. Right-click the broken puzzle piece image, and then select Run this Plugin.

Third-party information disclaimer

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.