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.swf

What is a .swf file?

Adobe Flash's compiled output format.

Use caution
Type Misc
By Macromedia / Adobe
MIME application/x-shockwave-flash

Drop any file to identify it

We read file headers, not extensions. Nothing gets uploaded.

What is it

Adobe Flash's compiled output format. SWF files contained animations, games, and interactive content that ran in the Flash Player browser plugin. Flash was officially killed in December 2020. No modern browser supports SWF — use Ruffle (an open-source Flash emulator) to view legacy content.

Technical details
Full Name
Shockwave Flash
MIME Type
application/x-shockwave-flash
Developer
Macromedia / Adobe
Magic Bytes
46 57 53
Safety
.swf requires caution. Flash had a long history of security vulnerabilities. SWF files from untrusted sources should not be opened.
What opens it
Ruffle (Flash emulator)
FREE All
Flashpoint (game archive)
FREE Windows
FAQ
Can I still play Flash content?
Yes, using Ruffle (ruffle.rs) — an open-source Flash emulator that runs in modern browsers. Flashpoint is another option that archives thousands of Flash games.
Related formats
.flv
Flash Video
.html
HyperText Markup Language