SWF to AVI Converter

Turn old Flash SWF files into AVI video for Windows and legacy editors. Free, in your browser, with no signup and no watermark.

Select SWF file →

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Click or drag and drop to upload files

We support most file types including: MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, MP3, WAV, PNG, JPEG, GIF, MKV, PDF, FLAC, TIFF!

EchoWave is used by creators, marketers, educators, and businesses to convert and edit media online.

Updated June 2026

SWF was Adobe's Flash format for vector animation and ActionScript, and it stopped opening when Flash was retired at the end of 2020. AVI is Microsoft's long-standing video container from 1992, still handy when an older Windows program or editor expects a plain video file. Converting SWF to AVI records the animation as standard video so legacy tools can load it. EchoWave does it free in your browser, with no signup and no watermark.

Free, no sign-upNo account, no trial

Runs in your browserNothing to install

Works on every devicePhone, tablet, laptop

No watermarkClean output, every time

How it works

How to convert SWF to AVI

1
Upload your SWF
Drag your SWF onto the converter or pick it from your device. Nothing to install.
2
Choose AVI and convert
Select AVI as the output and start. Free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
3
Download your AVI
Save the finished AVI, or open it in the editor to trim, crop, or resize it first.

Try it

Estimate your AVI

Pick a video bitrate and a length to see the AVI file size before you convert.

Video bitrate

Length5 min

1 min30 min

Estimated AVI size183MBSharp 1080p

An estimate. Real size varies with resolution, frame rate, and how much the picture moves.

The formats

SWF vs AVI

SWF

Shockwave Flash

Adobe Flash animation, now retired

Type: Flash animation
Holds: Vector animation and ActionScript
Typical size: Small for vector artwork
Plays on: Nothing by default, Flash was retired in 2020

Best for:Old Flash animations and games

AVI

Audio Video Interleave

A legacy Microsoft video container

Type: Legacy video container
Holds: Older codecs like DivX or Xvid with MP3 or PCM audio
Typical size: Large for the quality it gives
Plays on: Windows and VLC, patchy on phones

Best for:Playing older Windows video files

Will it lose quality?

When the codecs already match AVI, the converter can change the container without re-encoding, so the picture stays identical.
When the video has to be re-encoded for AVI, a high bitrate keeps it visually close to the SWF.
Converting cannot add detail the SWF never had. The output is at best as good as the source.

Use cases

What people use it for

Play anywhereMake a clip your device supports

Video editorsGet footage your software accepts

Web videoUse a format browsers play

CourseworkHand in a standard video file

SharingSend a clip people can open

Troubleshooting

If something looks off

The AVI will not play

Some players are picky about codecs. Try it in VLC, which opens almost anything, or convert again and let the converter re-encode the video.

The file got larger

A format change can shift the size, and re-encoding at a high bitrate adds overhead. Lower the bitrate or trim the clip for a smaller file.

Audio and video drift out of sync

Re-download the source and convert again. If a long recording drifts, splitting it into shorter pieces usually fixes the sync.

FAQ

SWF to AVI questions

How do I convert SWF to AVI?

Upload your SWF file, pick AVI as the output, and start. EchoWave plays the Flash timeline and records it as video, then you download the AVI or open it in the editor to trim or resize it first.

Is the SWF to AVI converter free?

Yes. There is no signup, no account to create, no trial, and no watermark on the file. Upload your SWF, convert it, and download the AVI from your browser.

Why convert SWF to AVI specifically?

AVI is the format older Windows software and some legacy editing or authoring tools still expect. If a program refuses your Flash file or a newer container, an AVI is often the safe input it will accept, which is why people convert old SWF assets to it.

Why will my SWF no longer play?

Flash Player was discontinued in December 2020 and browsers removed it for security reasons. SWF also never ran on iPhone or iPad. Converting to AVI gives you a video file your current software can open without Flash.

Do the interactive parts of the SWF carry over?

No. AVI is a linear video, so buttons, menus, and anything controlled by ActionScript become a flat recording of what shows on screen. A self-running animation converts neatly, but a Flash game only captures the path it records.

Will converting SWF to AVI reduce quality?

SWF is usually vector artwork, so EchoWave renders it to a raster AVI at a set size. A higher video bitrate keeps the lines crisp and motion smooth. The result can look very close to the source, though it cannot add detail the original never had.

Does it work on Windows, Mac, and Linux?

Yes. The converter runs in any modern browser on Windows, macOS, Chromebook, and Linux, and you can use it from a phone too. There is nothing to install.

AVI files can be large. Should I use MP4 instead?

AVI often produces a bigger file than newer formats for the same picture. If you mainly want to share or upload the clip, MP4 is smaller and plays on far more devices. Stick with AVI only when a specific legacy program needs it.

Does the AVI keep the sound from the SWF?

If your SWF has an audio stream, it is included in the AVI. Many Flash files have no sound, so the AVI may play silent, and you can add audio in the editor if you want.

Is it safe to convert here?

There is no account to create and nothing to install on your computer. See our security page for how EchoWave handles your files.