File cannot be opened

Symptoms

If one or more of these match what you are seeing, you are on the right page.

• •The file picker accepts the file but the editor returns to the dashboard
• •The project opens with missing images
• •A project that existed yesterday is gone from the dashboard entirely
• •The file is noticeably smaller than expected

Causes and fixes

Ordered from most to least likely. Work down the list — each cause is paired with what to do about it.

1. 1

   The project lived in Guest mode and the browser store was cleared.

   Guest mode saves to browser local storage. A cache wipe, the end of a private-browsing session or a browser reinstall deletes it permanently with no recovery path. Create a free account so projects are stored in the cloud, and export .flashfx backups of anything important.

2. 2

   The file was created by a newer release of FlashFX.

   Open it in the same environment that produced it. FlashFX is a browser application, so this usually means someone on a newer release exported it — ask them to re-export, or reload the editor to pick up the current version.

3. 3

   Images were linked rather than embedded.

   Linked assets are referenced, not stored in the file, so they do not travel with it. Re-link the missing assets from the Asset Library, and embed images before exporting a project that will be opened elsewhere.

4. 4

   The project was deleted from the dashboard.

   Cloud project deletion is permanent and immediate — there is no trash or recovery mechanism. Restore from a .flashfx backup if you have one.

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