What is Adobe AIR used for and do I need it on my PC?

Adobe AIR or Adobe Integrated Runtime is a Runtime Environment or a Runtime Engine that developers use to develop cross-platform Rich Internet Applications. Adobe AIR was launched by Adobe in early 2008 and the company had provided support for the product till 2020. After that, the development and support of Adobe AIR were handed over to HARMAN International. Adobe is a well-known brand that has developed many products, like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash Player, etc. Each of Adobe’s products is used for different purposes. In this article, we will see what Adobe AIR is used for and do you really need it on your PC?

Above, we have used some technical terms. So, before starting our discussion on the use of Adobe AIR, it is important for you to know the meaning of these technical terms. A Runtime Engine is software that is required by other apps to run. Many online gaming websites use Runtime Environments for their games. If that Runtime Environment is not installed on your system, you will receive a popup message to install that Runtime Environment first.

Let’s talk about Rich Internet Applications, commonly called RIA. An RIA is a web-based application that offers many features similar to desktop applications. RIAs generally run on web browsers and do not require to be installed on the client’s machine. However, the client needs the installation of some specific platforms or Runtime Environments, such as Adobe Flash, Adobe AIR, etc., to run the Rich Internet Applications.

Cross-platform apps are those apps that can run on different platforms. On the contrary, native apps are those apps that are developed for a specific platform, like Windows OS, iOS, etc. Cross-platform apps have many advantages over native apps. If we talk from the developer’s point of view, the developer does not need to write separate code for different platforms while developing a cross-platform app. On the other hand, if a developer wants to develop a native app for a different platform, he has to write different codes for different platforms.

What is Adobe AIR used for?

Adobe AIR is used by developers to create web apps that can be used on different operating systems. The Rich Internet Applications developed using Adobe AIR can be used without a web browser. The user just has to install Adobe AIR on his computer to run such RIAs. By developing a web app that runs on Adobe AIR Environment, an organization can increase users’ experience which is beneficial from the business point of view. How? RIAs developed on Adobe AIR Environment let users browse the company’s products directly from the web app without visiting the company’s website in a web browser. Moreover, a company can also make its web app notify users every time it launches a new product which will increase users’ retention.

Do I need Adobe AIR on my PC?

As explained earlier in this article, there are numerous Rich Internet Applications that use Adobe AIR as a platform to run properly. Adobe Media Player, ImageDropr, FlickrFlipper, etc., are some of these RIAs. If you have installed such RIAs on your system, you need Adobe AIR. In this case, if you uninstall Adobe AIR from your computer, you will not be able to run such applications. Doing so, you will receive an error message on your screen which looks like this:

This application requires Adobe AIR, To continue, install Adobe AIR on this device.

Can I remove Adobe AIR from my computer?

As explained above, if you do not need the apps that run on Adobe AIR Runtime Environment, you can remove Adobe AIR from your computer. There are two ways by which you can remove Adobe AIR from your system. Both of these ways are explained below:

Via the Windows 11/10 Settings.
Via the Control Panel.

1] Uninstall Adobe AIR from Windows 11/10 Settings

Here, we will explain the steps to uninstall Adobe AIR from both Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems via the Settings app.

Windows 11

Windows 11 users have to follow the steps below:

Right-click on the Start Menu and select Settings.
Select the Apps category from the left side.
Click on the Installed Apps tab on the right side.
Locate Adobe AIR in the list of installed apps and click on the three vertical dots.
Click Uninstall.

Windows 10

Windows 10 users have to follow the steps below:

Right-click on the Windows 10 Start Menu and select Settings.
Click Apps.
Select Apps & features from the left side.
Scroll down on the right pane and locate the Adobe AIR app.
Once you find it, select it and click Uninstall.

2] Uninstall Adobe AIR from the Control Panel

This method is the same for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users. Follow the instructions listed below:

Press Win + R keys to launch the Run Command box.
Type Control Panel and click OK.
Select Category in the View by mode.
Go to “Programs > Uninstall a program.”
Locate Adobe AIR in the list of installed programs.
Once you find it, right-click on it and select Uninstall.

What is the use of Adobe AIR on PC?

Adobe AIR is a cross-platform Runtime Environment that is used to deploy RIAs (Rich Internet Applications) on a wide range of devices running on different operating systems. These RIAs use Adobe AIR as a platform to run properly. We have already discussed this in detail above in this article.

That’s it.