If you’re a Mac user and you come across an SWF file that you need to open, what do you do? You can use a variety of freely available tools to view, play, or open SWF file on Mac.
So what is SWF file? SWF is the file format for Adobe Flash files, so you might come across these types of files if you’re working with web animations, graphics work, or other web-related or design work.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to view and play SWF files on Mac. We’ll look at a few different methods of Flash Player alternative, so you can decide which is best for you.
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Best SWF Player for Mac in 2024
Below you’ll find our picks for the best SWF players for Mac.
1. Elmedia Player
Elmedia Player is a reliable flash player for Mac that can open SWF files on M1/M2 Macs. As well as SWF files, the software supports a wide range of formats including AVI, MOV, MP4, and more.
It works with AirPlay, so you can stream to Apple TV as well as your smart TV via Chromecast or DLNA-certified devices, it has a virtual surround sound feature, and there’s subtitle support. With Elmedia Player as your SWF file player Mac you can enjoy Flash movies distraction-free in full screen mode or keep the player on top of other apps on your computer.
- Supports wide range of formats including AVI, MPV, MP4, FLV, DIVX, and more
- Customizable video and audio playback personalization and controls
- Stream across multiple devices including Apple TV and smart TVs
- Subtitle support
- Create custom playlists
- Ad-free online streaming
- Full-screen mode to enjoy movies without distractions
- Limited support for older devices
- Only available for Macs
💰 Price: free to use, PRO upgrade priced at $19.99
💻 OS: macOS
⭐ User Rating: 4.5/5 on Mac App Store
How to play SWF Files on Mac using Elmedia Player
Step 1: Download Elmedia Player from the official website or App Store and install it on your Mac.
Step 2: Choose the file you’d like to open by one of the following methods:
- Drag files onto the opened app or its Dock icon,
- Select the file from the SWF player menu, then click Open, or
- In Finder, right-click the file then select Open with > Elmedia Player.
It’s that easy to play any SWF file on Mac with Elmedia Player.
2. VLC Media Player
Another popular, open-source Flash free SWF player Mac is VLC Media Player. Just download the app from the official site, install it on your Mac, and drag and drop any SWF file into the VLC window on the taskbar. VLC is a cross-platform media player with an intuitive interface that’s easy to use. It supports most audio and video formats, though occasionally requires third-party codecs to play certain formats.
- Cross-platform
- Free and open-source
- Intuitive interface
- Supports most formats
- Some file formats require third party codecs
- Crashes occasionally
💰 Price: free
💻 OS: cross-platform
⭐ User Rating: 3.5/5 on Mac App Store
3. OmniPlayer
OmniPlayer is a straightforward and multifunctional player for Mac that can handle various formats, including SWF. The player offers powerful playback speed control and allows you to customize subtitles in real time by changing their color and size.
It also lets you adjust the playback of both audio and video, as well as play videos from YouTube and Vimeo. Furthermore, OmniPlayer can stream via AirPlay and DLNA. It also has a screenshot feature and supports GIF creation.
- Wide list of supported formats
- Control over playlists, audio and video
- Casting to Smart TV.
- Payment is required to unlock some features.
💰 Price: free, $8.99 for Pro
💻 OS: macOS
⭐ User Rating: 4.7/5 on Mac App Store
4. GOM Player
If you’re looking for a free SWF player for Mac, GOM Player is a great option that supports plenty of audio and video formats, including SWF, MP4, MP4, M4A, and more. The app is easy to use and comes with codecs included. Other features include subtitle support, 360-degree video playback, and support for keyboard shortcuts.
- Supports most popular formats
- Codec search tool
- Supports hotkeys
- Seamlessly opens SWF files
- Subtitle support
- Ads during SWF playback
- Not the most intuitive interface
- Installer may include unwanted programs
💰 Price: free, Pro version costs $9.99
💻 OS: Windows, macOS
⭐ User Rating: 4.1/5 on CNET
5. Jihosoft SWF Converter
If you’re looking for software to convert SWF files to popular formats like MP4, AVI, MOV, 3GP, etc, then you should consider Jihosoft SWF Converter. It’s easy to import SWF files and convert then export them in your preferred output format, and it takes just a few minutes (depending on file size).
The app can even detect SWF videos on your guest website via URL, then download them for conversion. The software is compatible with most popular applications and devices, and also includes video editing plus other advanced features.
- Convert SWF files into wide range of formats
- Fast, easy conversion
- Video editing options
- Add watermark
- It’s a converter, not an SWF file player
- Might lack technical support
💰 Price: free version, full license is $49.95
💻 OS: Windows, macOS
6. Macgo Free Mac Media Player
Macgo Free Mac Media Player is one of the best options if you’re looking for an SWF file player for Mac. With an intuitive, easy to use interface, it’s quick to get started, and you can directly output DVD or other videos in 1080p HD. Macgo supports a wide range of formats including MOV, AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, and more. The cross-platform player also has external subtitle support for SRT, SSA, and SUB, though, like many other players, it does not recognize built-in subtitles.
- Free
- Cross-platform
- Has a sharing function
- Supports wide range of formats
- External subtitle support
- May not be compatible with later versions of macOS
- Some users experience choppy playback
💰 Price: free
💻 OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
⭐ User Rating: 3.7/5 on MacUpdate
Comparison Table of Best SWF Players on Mac
| Name | Support for popular media formats | Supported OS | Library availability | Playback for SWF | Price |
| Elmedia Player | yes (MKV, WMV, AVI, SWF, MP4, FLV, AAC, FLAC, MP3, etc.) | macOS | yes | smooth | free, Pro upgrade is $19.99 |
| VLC Media Player | yes (SWF, MKV, MP4, VOB, WMV, MPG, AVI, MP3, WMA, AAC, etc.) | cross-platform | yes | smooth | free |
| OmniPlayer | MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, SWF, MPG, MPEG, etc. | macOS | yes | moderate | free, $8.99 for Pro |
| GOM Player | AVI, OGM, MKV, MP4, SWF, ASF, WMA, FLAC, etc. | macOS, Windows | yes | smooth | free, Pro version is $9.99 |
| Macgo Media Player | SWF, MKV, MOV, AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, MPEG, RMVB, MP3, WMA, etc. | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | yes | smooth | free |
What is SWF file?
SWF is the file format for Adobe Flash Player files, containing vector-based animations and videos. SWF actually stands for Small Web Format but is often referred to as ShockWave Format. These types of files are used to efficiently deliver multimedia content over the web. The format can also contain ActionScripts, used for small web-based applications. Note that SWF playback functionality is limited on M1 Macs. To access and edit SWF files, we’d recommend a tool such as VideoStudio Pro.
How to play and view SWF files on Mac in web browser
If you’re wondering how to play SWF files, you can view SWF files on Mac in your web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera) provided you don’t mind installing and enabling the Adobe Flash plugin (which could be risky). Just drag and drop the SWF file into the web browser. Installing Flash in Safari on your Mac isn’t recommended.
Nowadays, most web browsers don’t have Flash Player installed by default. Older web browsers generally still have Flash Player built-in and bundled by default or available as an option. Today you need to enable Flash player in Chrome in order to run it, whereas in the past Chrome had a Flash plugin that you could turn off if needed. If using Flash player in Chrome, make sure you update it through the browser to ensure you’re always running the latest version of the plugin.
For security reasons, it’s generally recommended to either not install Flash, or uninstall it from your Mac and instead use it within a browser app like Chrome.
Conclusion
Since most browsers and Adobe are phasing out support for Flash, a third-party SWF player for Mac is needed to play Flash files. You could play these files online but you’ll need to install SWF player Chrome plugins for your browser.
Now you’ve read our list of popular SWF players for Mac, you’re sure to find the best Flash player for Mac to suit your needs. Make sure to check the features, pros, and cons for each player, as well as reading reviews before deciding. We’d always recommend using a dedicated media player over an online solution. Third-party apps like Elmedia Player are packed with features and other capabilities besides simply playing SWF files.
