How do I install Silverlight now that it has been discontinued?

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How to Install Silverlight After its Discontinuation

How to Install Silverlight After its Discontinuation

Although Microsoft Silverlight has reached its end-of-life, some legacy applications still require it. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to install and enable Silverlight on modern Windows systems, primarily focusing on its compatibility with Internet Explorer.

Microsoft Silverlight, a powerful development framework for rich internet applications, was officially discontinued on October 12, 2021. This means Microsoft no longer provides support, security updates, or official downloads. However, organizations with legacy applications built on Silverlight may still need to run it, often within the confines of older browsers like Internet Explorer. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining and installing Silverlight, as well as configuring your system to allow its execution.

Understanding Silverlight's End-of-Life

Silverlight's journey began as a competitor to Adobe Flash, offering a robust platform for interactive web content. Over time, with the rise of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, browser-native technologies superseded the need for plug-ins. Microsoft announced its deprecation in 2015, with the final end-of-life in late 2021. This discontinuation implies several challenges for users who still require it:

  • No Official Downloads: Microsoft removed all official download links.
  • Security Risks: Without security updates, running Silverlight can expose systems to vulnerabilities.
  • Browser Incompatibility: Modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge (Chromium-based) no longer support NPAPI plugins, which Silverlight relies on. Internet Explorer remains the only viable option on Windows.

Despite these challenges, with careful steps, you can still get Silverlight running for essential legacy applications.

A diagram illustrating the Silverlight end-of-life scenario. A large 'Silverlight' box is crossed out. Arrows point from 'Legacy Applications' to 'Internet Explorer' and then to 'Silverlight Runtime (Unsupported)'. A warning symbol indicates 'Security Risks'. Another arrow points from 'Modern Browsers' to 'No Support'. The overall diagram conveys the challenges of running Silverlight today.

Silverlight End-of-Life Scenario

Obtaining and Installing Silverlight Runtime

Since official downloads are no longer available, you'll need to source the Silverlight installer from a reputable third-party archive. Always exercise caution when downloading software from unofficial sources. Once you have the installer, the installation process is straightforward.

Step 1: Download the Installer Search for "Silverlight 5 installer" or "Silverlight.exe" on reliable software archive sites. Ensure you download the correct architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) for your system, though the 32-bit version often works universally.

Step 2: Run the Installer Locate the downloaded .exe file and run it as an administrator. The installer will guide you through the process. Accept the license agreement and follow the on-screen prompts. Typically, a default installation is sufficient.

Step 3: Verify Installation After installation, you can verify its presence by checking your installed programs list in the Windows Control Panel or Settings app. Look for "Microsoft Silverlight".

Enabling Silverlight in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is the only modern Windows browser that retains support for Silverlight. However, you might need to adjust its settings to ensure Silverlight content runs correctly.

Step 1: Open Internet Explorer Launch Internet Explorer. If you're using Windows 10 or 11, you might need to search for it, as Edge is the default browser. You can often find it by typing iexplore in the Run dialog (Win + R).

Step 2: Access Internet Options Go to Tools (the gear icon) -> Internet options.

Step 3: Manage Add-ons In the Internet Options dialog, navigate to the Programs tab and click Manage add-ons.

Step 4: Enable Silverlight In the Manage Add-ons window, set the Show dropdown to All add-ons. Locate Microsoft Silverlight in the list. Ensure its Status is Enabled. If it's disabled, select it and click the Enable button.

Step 5: Adjust Security Settings Sometimes, Internet Explorer's security settings can block Silverlight. Go back to Internet Options, then the Security tab. Select Trusted sites and click Sites. Add the URLs of your legacy Silverlight applications to this zone. For the Trusted sites zone, click Custom level... and ensure that Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins and Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting are set to Enable or Prompt.

Step 6: Test Silverlight Content Navigate to a known Silverlight application or a test page (if available) within Internet Explorer to confirm it's working. You might see a prompt to allow Silverlight to run; always allow it for trusted sites.

1. Step 1

Open Internet Explorer (search for iexplore in Windows Run dialog).

2. Step 2

Navigate to Tools (gear icon) > Internet options.

3. Step 3

Go to the Programs tab and click Manage add-ons.

4. Step 4

In Manage Add-ons, set Show to All add-ons and ensure Microsoft Silverlight is Enabled.

5. Step 5

Return to Internet Options, go to the Security tab, select Trusted sites, and add your Silverlight application URLs.

6. Step 6

In Trusted sites, click Custom level... and Enable or Prompt for Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins and Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting.

7. Step 7

Test your Silverlight application in Internet Explorer.