# Can I save Flash files to my computer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257 "2006-11-06T04:22:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257/1 "2006-11-06T04:22:25Z")

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Is there anyway to download the flash file to my computer if no download link is provided?

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**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257/2 "2006-11-06T04:32:10Z")

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Yes. There may be an easier way, but in the past I’ve done so by going through the page’s source looking for a swf file and then using a download manager.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257/3 "2006-11-06T21:20:29Z")

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The Firefox extension VideoDownloader can also be used for this.

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**Author:** ![BrightSmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@BrightSmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightSmite)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257/4 "2006-11-07T04:18:12Z")

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MyFavorite: [http://savetube.post2hostit.com](http://savetube.post2hostit.com)

Second best: [http://www.youtubex.com/](http://www.youtubex.com/)

Honorable mention: www.keepvid.com

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257/5 "2006-11-07T08:50:27Z")

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The long, not very elegant solution is to pull the file out of your Temporary Internet Files. Clear your cache first, and search the folder for \*.swf.

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**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-save-flash-files-to-my-computer/379257/6 "2006-11-08T02:31:45Z")

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I found the Downloadhelper file extension. This sucker is SWEET. Haven’t found a site it couldn’t download.