Files with sw extension can be commonly found as Shockwave Flash movies in animated vector format, used mainly on Internet web sites. 

There is one other file type using
the SWF file extension!

empty icon.swf - Microsoft Sidewinder profile activator data

Detailed description

Software that open swf file

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SWF file extension - ShockWave Flash, Animated vector format for the Internet

What is swf file? How to open swf files?

File extension swf is associated with Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash movie file. ShockWave Flash, Animated Vector Format for Internet.
See also: fla file extensions

The Macromedia Flash (swf) (pronounced 'swiff' ) file format was designed to deliver vector graphics and animation over the Internet. The Macromedia Flash File Format (swf) was designed as a very efficient delivery format and not as a format for exchanging graphics between graphics editors. It was designed to meet the following goals:

  • On-screen Display—The format is primarily intended for on-screen display and so it supports anti-aliasing, fast rendering to a bitmap of any color format, animation and interactive buttons.
  • Extensibility—The format is a tagged format, so the format can be evolved with new features while maintaining backward compatibility with older players.
  • Network Delivery—The files can be delivered over a network with limited and unpredictable bandwidth. The files are compressed to be small and support incremental rendering through streaming. SWF is a binary format and is not human readable like HTML. Macromedia Flash (SWF) uses techniques such as bit-packing and structures with optional fields, to minimize file size.
  • Simplicity—The format is simple so that the player is small and easily ported. Also, the player depends upon only a very limited set of operating system functionality.
  • File Independence—Files can be displayed without any dependence on external resources such as fonts.
  • Scalability—Different computers have different monitor resolutions and bit depths. Files work well on limited hardware, while taking advantage of more expensive hardware when it is available.
  • Speed—The files are designed to be rendered at a high quality very quickly.

This platform is also often used in various web-based video games, such as Farville, Castleville, Settlers Online and other.

MIME types:
application/x-shockwave-flash
application/x-shockwave-flash2-preview
application/futuresplash, image/vnd.rn-realflas

Updated: November 8, 2023

The default software associated to open swf file:

Adobe Animate CC icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Animate CC  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Animate CC is used to design interactive animations for multiple platforms including Flash/AIR, HTML5 Canvas, WebGL etc. It is a successor of discontinued Adobe Flash Professional.

Adobe Flash icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Flash  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Flash is authoring environment to create interactive web sites with animations and video contents. Flash works with vector and raster graphics to provide animation of text, drawings, and still images. It also supports streaming of audio and video. Flash content can be displayed on various computing platforms by Adobe Flash Player. Latest version Adobe Flash CC Professional is available through Creative Cloud.

Adobe Flash was replaced by Adobe Animate CC and Adobe Animate CC for Mac.

Adobe Animate CC for Mac icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Animate CC for Mac  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Animate CC for Mac is successor of discontinued Adobe Flash Professional. It allows users to create interactive animations including Flash/AIR, HTML5 Canvas, WebGL platforms.

Adobe Flash Player icon

Adobe Systems Incorporated logoAdobe Flash Player  Multiplatform software

Company or developer:
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Flash Player is add-on to operating system that used to play Adobe Flash animations and Adobe Flash movies in Web browsers. Flash Player supports variety of operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux etc.

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How to edit SWF file

Help how to open:

You can not simply open *.swf files and edit them. Use software like Flash Decompiler or similar applications to extract contents of the file. Original editable source has FLA file extension.

How to convert:

You can not simply convert or recover all information from this file type. Use software like Flash Decompiler to extract file contents or convert file into .fla Flash animation.

Find conversions from swf file:

swf to apk

swf to app

swf to exe

swf to fla

swf to html5

swf to pdf

swf to scr

Find converter to swf file type:

exe to swf

fla to swf

pez to swf

sb2 to swf

sb3 to swf

sqf to swf

vpj to swf

File identification strings:

HEX code: 46 57 53
ASCII code: FWS

List of software applications associated to the .swf file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open swf file, edit swf file, convert swf file, view swf file, play swf file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting swf files.

Software that open swf file - ShockWave Flash, Animated vector format for the Internet

Programs supporting the exension swf on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open swf file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with swf file by default:
Adobe Animate CC small icon Adobe Animate CC
Adobe Flash small icon Adobe Flash
Other suggested software:
Revelation Natural Art
SWFTools
SWF and FLV Toolbox

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Main software associated with swf file by default:
Adobe Animate CC for Mac small icon Adobe Animate CC for Mac
Other suggested software:
Adobe Flash for Mac small icon Adobe Flash for Mac

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