How to Download SWF Files

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This wikiHow teaches you how to download Flash games or videos. Flash games and videos can be downloaded as SWF files, though you will have to play around with the SWF file's website code by using your browser's advanced settings. In order to access and use Flash in your browser, you must have Flash enabled.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Firefox

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  1. Click or double-click the Firefox app icon, which resembles an orange fox on a blue globe.
    • Due to Firefox's built-in tool that allows you to access Flash objects, Firefox is the preferred browser for downloading SWF files.
  2. Open the website on which your Flash game or video is hosted.
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  3. If the game doesn't immediately load, click the prompt or notification to enable Flash, then click Allow or Enable if prompted to confirm your choice. This will reload the page.
  4. This is necessary in order to ensure that all of the correct SWF files are loaded in the page.
  5. If you're downloading a Flash game, click the Play (or similar) button to prompt the game to start. This will allow your browser to find the correct SWF files.
  6. A drop-down menu will appear.
    • On a Mac, hold down Control while clicking a blank part of the page.
    • Make sure you aren't right-clicking the game window itself.
  7. It's in the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will appear.
    • If you don't see this option, you probably right-clicked an ad or a piece of the game window. Right-click a different part of the page.
  8. This option is at the top of the pop-up window. Doing so displays all of the images, backgrounds, and Flash objects on the page.
  9. Scroll down the pop-up window until you find a file with "Object" listed in the "Type" column, then check the file's name to see if it matches the name of the video or game you want to download.
    • SWF files for games often have "API" in the name.
  10. Click the file's name to do so.
  11. It's in the lower-right side of the pop-up window. The file will begin downloading onto your computer.
    • You may need to select a save location or confirm this decision before proceeding.
  12. Once the file is on your computer, you can proceed.
  13. Try opening the SWF file . You can use a free program to open and play the SWF file. If the file plays correctly, you've successfully downloaded the right SWF file.
    • If your downloaded SWF file doesn't open or isn't the correct file, you'll need to go back and try a different "Object" file. If there are no more "Object" files, your SWF file can't be downloaded.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Google Chrome

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  1. Click or double-click the Chrome app icon, which resembles a red, yellow, green, and blue sphere.
  2. Open the website on which your Flash game or video is hosted.
  3. If the game doesn't immediately load, click the Click to enable Adobe Flash Player section, then click Allow when prompted.
    • Some sites will have a different button (e.g., Enable/Install Flash ) instead of the Click to enable Adobe Flash Player option.
  4. This is necessary in order to ensure that all of the correct SWF files are loaded in the page.
  5. If you're downloading a Flash game, click the Play (or similar) button to prompt the game to start. This will allow your browser to find the correct SWF files.
  6. This is in the top-right corner of Chrome. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
  7. It's in the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear.
  8. This is in the pop-out menu. Doing so opens the Developer pane on the right side of the page.
  9. It's at the top of the pane.
  10. Press either Ctrl + F (Windows) or ⌘ Command + F (Mac) to do so.
  11. Doing so will highlight each instance of "SWF" appearing in the source code.
  12. Scroll through the source code to review the highlighted "SWF" options. You're looking for an address that matches the site and/or game or video title (e.g., "flashgames/games/gamename.swf") rather than a string of code.
  13. Once you find the address, click once the address to select its block of code, then press Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (Mac).
    • Since Chrome doesn't let you select an individual line of text, you may have to copy an entire block of code.
  14. Click the address bar, then press Ctrl + V or ⌘ Command + V to paste the address into it.
    • Since you copied an entire block of code, you'll need to remove the code before and after the address before proceeding.
  15. Doing so will prompt the SWF file to download onto your computer.
  16. Once it's on your computer, you can proceed.
    • If prompted, click Keep on the prompt warning you that SWF files can harm your computer. You may also have to select a save location.
  17. Try opening the SWF file . You can use a free program to open and play the SWF file. If the file plays correctly, you've successfully downloaded the right SWF file.
    • If your downloaded SWF file doesn't open or isn't the correct file, you'll need to go back and try a different SWF address in the Developer Tools tab.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Microsoft Edge

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  1. Click or double-click the Edge app icon, which resembles either a dark-blue "e" or a white "e" on a dark-blue background.
  2. Open the website on which your Flash game or video is hosted.
  3. If the game doesn't immediately load, click the puzzle piece-shaped Flash icon in the address bar, then click the Enable or Allow prompt to enable Flash and reload the page.
  4. This is necessary in order to ensure that all of the correct SWF files are loaded in the page.
  5. If you're downloading a Flash game, click the Play (or similar) button to prompt the game to start. This will allow your browser to find the correct SWF files.
  6. It's in the upper-right side of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  7. This is in the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the Developer Tools pane on the right side of the page.
    • You might want to reduce the right side of the pane by clicking and dragging right the scroll bar in the middle of the pane. This will make searching the Elements tab easier.
  8. It's at the top of the Developer Tools pane.
  9. Press Ctrl + F to do so. Your mouse cursor will automatically be placed in the search bar.
  10. Doing so will highlight any instances of SWF files in the Elements tab.
  11. Click the left- or right-facing arrow in the right-most corner of the search bar to skip from one instance of a SWF file to the next, making sure to read the string of text before each SWF instance. You're looking for an address that matches the site and/or game or video title (e.g., "flashgames/games/gamename.swf") rather than a string of code.
    • Since the Elements tab isn't very wide, you might have to click and drag left or right the scroll bar at the bottom of it to see your SWF results.
  12. Once you find the address, click and drag your mouse cursor across it, then press Ctrl + C .
    • You may not be able to copy the address without copying the whole block of code.
  13. Click the address bar at the top of the Edge window, then press Ctrl + V . You should see the address appear here.
    • If you were unable to copy the address by itself, remove the sections of code before and after the address before proceeding. This is easiest to do in a text editor such as Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).
  14. Doing so will prompt the SWF file to begin downloading.
  15. Once the SWF file finishes downloading, you can proceed.
    • If asked if you want to save the SWF file, confirm the decision. You may also have to select a save location.
  16. Try opening the SWF file . You can use a free program to open and play the SWF file. If the file plays correctly, you've successfully downloaded the right SWF file.
    • If your downloaded SWF file doesn't open or isn't the correct file, you'll need to go back and try a different SWF address in the Developer Tools tab.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Safari

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  1. Click the Safari app icon, which resembles a blue compass, in your Mac's Dock.
  2. If you don't have the Develop menu item at the top of your Mac's screen while Safari is open, do the following:
    • Click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
    • Click Preferences... in the drop-down menu.
    • Click the Advanced tab.
    • Check the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" box.
    • Close the Preferences window.
  3. Open the website on which your Flash game or video is hosted.
  4. If prompted, click the Enable or Allow button to allow Flash on the webpage.
  5. This is necessary in order to ensure that all of the correct SWF files are loaded in the page.
  6. If you're downloading a Flash game, click the Play (or similar) button to prompt the game to start. This will allow your browser to find the correct SWF files.
  7. This option is in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  8. It's in the Develop drop-down menu. You should see the page's source code appear.
  9. Press ⌘ Command + F to do so.
  10. This will cause Safari to highlight any "SWF" sections in the source code.
  11. Scroll through the Page Source pane to review any highlighted "SWF" sections. You're looking for an address that matches the site and/or game or video title (e.g., "flashgames/games/gamename.swf") rather than a string of code.
  12. Click and drag your mouse cursor across the address, then press ⌘ Command + C to copy it.
    • You may not be able to copy the address without copying the whole block of code.
  13. Click the address bar at the top of the Safari window, then press ⌘ Command + V . You should see the address appear here.
    • If you were unable to copy the address by itself, remove the sections of code before and after the address before proceeding. This is easiest to do in a text editor such as TextEdit.
  14. Doing so will prompt the SWF file to begin downloading.
  15. Once the SWF file is on your computer, you can proceed.
    • If asked if you want to save the SWF file, confirm the decision. You may also have to select a save location.
  16. Try opening the SWF file . You can use a free program to open and play the SWF file. If the file plays correctly, you've successfully downloaded the right SWF file.
    • If your downloaded SWF file doesn't open or isn't the correct file, you'll need to go back and try a different SWF address.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I download SWF files through a mobile device?
    Community Answer
    You can go to file2hd, enter the url, accept the terms, then find the .swf. But most of the time, the SWF file will be corrupted.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 12
  • Question
    What if it's a direct link to .SWF instead of an embedded link?
    Community Answer
    You can still use the exact same method.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 3
  • Question
    Will this work on a Chromebook?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but Chromebooks don't have any software that I know of to read the file.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • Many sites will prevent you from being able to download Flash games from them. Unfortunately, using a different browser or attempting to use a paid solution still won't make such games accessible.
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