How to Open SWF Files on Windows 11/10/8/7

Just a few years ago, you could watch compressed animated movies with an SWF extension online on almost any browser. Today, though, it can be challenging to figure out how to open SWF files on Chrome or on your computer. It’s still possible, though, to open and run these files. Here are a few ways to do it.

OS: Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11, Mac OS X 10.10 or higher

Movavi Video Converter is free-download standalone video converting software that allows users to convert their video files into more than 180 different formats, including converting to and from SWF files. It’s available for both Mac and PC, with subscription or lifetime options to buy the video converter.

Movavi Video Converter lets you easily find how to open SWF files and has some SWF editor features, as well. While Movavi Video Converter isn’t strictly an SWF file player, with the ability to convert SWF files to popular, well-supported formats, you won’t actually need an SWF player.

How to convert SWF files with Movavi Video Converter

Converting SWF files is easy with the right video converter. With Movavi Video Converter, for example, you can learn how to play an SWF file in just a few simple steps:

1. Download and install Movavi Video Converter.
2. Click Add Media at the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Browse your computer for your SWF file and click Open to import it into Movavi for conversion.
4. At the bottom of the screen, choose your new video output format.
5. Tap the Convert button in the bottom right corner.

OS: Windows XP/Vista/Server 2008/7, Mac OS X 10.5.6-10.6

Adobe® Flash® Player is free software designed to play SWF files online or on your computer. It was created as a plugin for popular browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. In its day, it was arguably the best SWF player available, as users could simply download the Adobe® Flash® Player plugin and it would automatically open and run Flash videos and games for them. If a website included an embedded SWF movie or game and you did not already have the Flash plugin, you would receive an easy prompt to download the plugin and the media would play automatically once Adobe® Flash® Player was installed. Unfortunately, using Adobe® Flash® Player isn’t quite this straightforward anymore, as the program is quickly being phased out.

While Adobe® Flash® Player has been officially discontinued by Adobe and is no longer supported, it’s still possible to open SWF files with this software. To do so, you just need to download an older version of the Adobe® Flash® plugin for your preferred browser. Many users have reported success with this method, but others have experienced compatibility issues with mobile devices and newer desktop computers and updated versions of Windows 10 and Mac OS X.

OS: Windows

Get SWF File Player

SWF File Player is a free SWF player that can be quickly downloaded and used to open and play local SWF files and online. This software automatically resizes the program window to fit the SWF content and provides an option to play the SWF file in loop mode. There are multiple options to change the settings of the camera, mic, volume and background colors and allows you to set the quality of playback. It is simple and relatively painless to get started with this file player for basic usage.

OS: Windows 7/8/8.1/10, Mac OS X 10.13 or higher

Get GOM Player

GOM Player is one of the world’s most popular video players and can be used to open and play SWF files for free. With hundreds of advanced features, great customizability and full screen viewing, it’s no wonder this flash player has millions of users around the world, using it for all their playback needs. It supports various file formats, including AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, WMV, DVD, and Audio CD through codecs, and can even play damaged SWF files. For movies, the GOM Player has a subtitle library and automatically searches and syncs subtitles for movies that are being played. They offer a PLUS program that eliminates the use of ads and reduces buffering in 4K UHD movies.

OS: Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10

Get KMPlayer

KMPlayer is a versatile media player software. With this software, flash files can be viewed in full screen and controls can be used to play, pause, stop, rewind and skip. KMPlayer also offers the option to open SWF files located on your PC from URL or from FTP as well as supporting viewers to watch 3D videos and 360-degree videos. It supports various codecs and high-definition services with vivid image quality. Adjustments to the screen and sound can be made as well as options to reduce noise and choose super high-speed mode. For movie SWF files, it supports 41 languages around the world through subtitles, which is helpful if you’re learning a new language.

OS: Windows Vista/XP/2000

Get Swiff Player

Another great but simple free SWF player which allows you to open and play SWF files locally and online and can be viewed in full screen. An easy-to-use player, it offers some media functions such as play and stop, enables the loop mode and navigates backwards and forwards within the file. If you’re wanting to check the properties of the SWF file, Swiff can easily modify frame rate, dimensions, size, location, and more. It is pretty limited, however, this can reduce the amount of errors experienced through this player.