Understanding Adobe Animate CC File Extensions

The primary file extension for Adobe Animate CC project files is .fla, although it also uses the .xfl extension in certain contexts.

When working with Adobe Animate CC, formerly known as Adobe Flash Professional, you will typically encounter two main file extensions for project files: .fla and .xfl.

The Default: .FLA

According to the reference, when you save a file directly within Adobe Animate, the standard or default format is FLA. This .fla file is the native project file that contains all your timelines, assets, code (ActionScript), and settings. It is the file you would open to continue editing your animation project.

The Internal/Export Format: .XFL

The reference also mentions that the internal format of the Animate file is XFL. While .fla is the default save format, other applications, including Adobe® After Effects®, have the capability to export files in the XFL format. These files, when exported this way, will carry the XFL file extension instead of .fla. This XFL format is essentially an uncompressed representation of the FLA file, often used for interchange between different software or workflows.

Summary Table

Here's a quick look at the two main project file extensions:

Extension	Description	Primary Use in Animate CC
.fla	Default Adobe Animate project file format	Saving/Editing projects
.xfl	Internal format; used for export/interchange	Exporting/Interchange

Both .fla and .xfl represent Animate project files, but .fla is the format you'll work with most often for standard editing.

• Key Takeaway: While .fla is the most common and default file extension for saving, .xfl is also associated with Animate's internal structure and is used by other Adobe applications for exporting files compatible with Animate.