You can download embedded Flash videos inside a browser. This article covers getting videos inside of Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox.

Flash animation files are embedded as SWF (Small Web Format) files in web pages. With a bit of elbow grease, it is possible to download these files without the overhead of browser extensions. Here's how you can do it on Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

How to Download Flash Files Using Chrome

To download SWF files in Chrome without the express help of any extensions, you have to dive into some of Chrome's tools that are favored by developers. Don’t worry, the steps are simple enough.

  1. Open the Flash video on a Chrome tab and allow it to load completely. Right-click on an empty area and select Inspect from the context menu.
    Inspect option
  2. The Developer Tools should open up in a separate frame at the bottom of the browser screen.
    Developer tools in Chrome
  3. Instead of searching for the specific SWF file in the jumble of code, click on the magnifying glass icon, which says – Select an element in the page to inspect it. Using the selection also helps if there is more than one video on the page.
  4. Click on the Flash video, which gets highlighted in blue. Correspondingly, the object path is also selected in the code.
    Embed link
  5. Select the URL and paste it into the address bar of Chrome, and then open it again.
    URL in the address bar
  6. The download should begin automatically now. Once the file is downloaded, click on it to view the file.
    Downloaded Flash file

You should also know how to enable Flash in Chrome in case you need it. If you prefer to download an entire website for offline reading, that can be done too (although obviously, the flash files won't be coming with.)

Download Flash Files Using Firefox

Launch Firefox and load the page containing the embedded SWF Flash file that you want to download. Let the SWF file stream through completely. Then, follow these steps:

  1. On any empty part of the page, right-click and select Inspect from the context menu.
    Inspect option in Firefox
  2. The Developer Tools should pop up at the bottom of the screen. There's a bit of work involved as you have to sift through the cached elements to locate the SWF file. You can make it quicker by sorting the elements by type and narrowing them down to the one that says Embed.
    Embed link
  3. Copy the highlighted link and paste it into a separate tab of Firefox and open it.
    URL in the address bar
  4. The file should now download automatically and when it is completed, a pop-up will appear on your screen like the one in the screenshot below. In case the download does not start, click on the Menu button in the top right and choose Save Page As.
    Downloaded Flash file

Download Flash Files Using Microsoft Edge

The steps of downloading Flash files on Microsoft Edge are almost the same as in Chrome. Here is what you need to do:

  1. In Edge, navigate to the targeted page and right-click on any empty part of the page.
  2. Select Inspect from the context menu. The Developer Tools should pop up at the bottom or on the side of the screen.
    Developer tools in Edge
  3. Look for a highlighted link that says Embed.
  4. Copy the highlighted link as shown below and paste it into a separate tab in Edge.
    Embed link
  5. Click Enter and the file should immediately start downloading.
    Downloaded Flash file

Keep Animated Flash Files on Your Computer

The downloaded Flash files can be viewed in players like Media Player Classic and the excellent Daum PotPlayer, among others. Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop it into your browser.

The next time you come across a cool animated interactive, think about downloading it and keeping it offline. You now have the methods now, or you probably knew them and this information is old hat.

Image Credit: Liliya Linnik via Shutterstock