This patch is currently optional and available through the update catalogue. This means that an update to uninstall Flash Player is not force-distributed and users must find and install it themselves. The source says that this patch will become available for download over the next few weeks through Windows Update and Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS). Most likely, it will later become part of the cumulative update package for Windows 10.

The sole purpose of this update is to remove Flash Player from Windows 10, but there are some nuances here too. According to reports, the patch removes Flash Player only from the control panel, removing all traces of its presence from the software platform. However, the update does not affect browsers or Flash Player versions that were downloaded and installed by the user themselves. For example, a Microsoft update does not remove the PPAPI and NPAPI versions of Flash Player if they were previously installed by the user.

Microsoft is also aware of plans to remove Flash Player from its proprietary Edge browser. This is expected to happen following the release of the next scheduled web browser update later this month.