DIR File Extension

What is DIR file?

DIR is a project file associated with Adobe Director. DIR files can contain animations, video clips, or website elements. Each DIR file stores references to project resources, script code, and animation timeline. Since 2017, Adobe Director has been discontinued. DIR format is not backward compatible.

Adobe Shockwave

This Flash-based technology is officially no longer developed. The controversial discontinuation of Adobe Flash Player, is a process that will end in 2020 when it will no longer be supported on any platform. This means that DIR files and Flash-based games will not be officially supported. Adobe was forced to abandon Flash due to many legacy bugs and security holes that affected the end-user.

Programs which support DIR file extension

The following list contains programs grouped by 2 operating systems that support DIR files. DIR files can be encountered on all system platforms, including mobile, yet there is no guarantee each will properly support such files.

Updated: 12/19/2022

How to open file with DIR extension?

Problems with accessing DIR may be due to various reasons. On the bright side, the most encountered issues pertaining to Adobe Director Movie files aren’t complex. In most cases they can be addressed swiftly and effectively without assistance from a specialist. The list below will guide you through the process of addressing the encountered problem.

Step 1. Download and install Adobe Director

The main and most frequent cause precluding users form opening DIR files is that no program that can handle DIR files is installed on user’s system. The solution is straightforward, just download and install Adobe Director. The full list of programs grouped by operating systems can be found above. The safest method of downloading Adobe Director installed is by going to developer’s website (Adobe Systems Incorporated) and downloading the software using provided links.

Step 2. Check the version of Adobe Director and update if needed

If you already have Adobe Director installed on your systems and DIR files are still not opened properly, check if you have the latest version of the software. It may also happen that software creators by updating their applications add compatibility with other, newer file formats. This can be one of the causes why DIR files are not compatible with Adobe Director. The latest version of Adobe Director should support all file formats that where compatible with older versions of the software.

Step 3. Set the default application to open DIR files to Adobe Director

If you have the latest version of Adobe Director installed and the problem persists, select it as the default program to be used to manage DIR on your device. The method is quite simple and varies little across operating systems.

The procedure to change the default program in Windows

• Choose the Open with entry from the file menu accessed by right-mouse clicking on the DIR file
• Click Choose another app and then select More apps option
• To finalize the process, select Look for another app on this PC entry and using the file explorer select the Adobe Director installation folder. Confirm by checking Always use this app to open DIR files box and clicking OK button.

The procedure to change the default program in Mac OS

• By clicking right mouse button on the selected DIR file open the file menu and choose Information
• Proceed to the Open with section. If its closed, click the title to access available options
• From the list choose the appropriate program and confirm by clicking Change for all....
• A message window should appear informing that This change will be applied to all files with DIR extension. By clicking Continue you confirm your selection.

Step 4. Verify that the DIR is not faulty

You closely followed the steps listed in points 1-3, but the problem is still present? You should check whether the file is a proper DIR file. It is probable that the file is corrupted and thus cannot be accessed.

1. Check the DIR file for viruses or malware

If the file is infected, the malware that resides in the DIR file hinders attempts to open it. It is advised to scan the system for viruses and malware as soon as possible or use an online antivirus scanner. DIR file is infected with malware? Follow the steps suggested by your antivirus software.

2. Verify that the DIR file’s structure is intact

If you obtained the problematic DIR file from a third party, ask them to supply you with another copy. It is possible that the file has not been properly copied to a data storage and is incomplete and therefore cannot be opened. If the DIR file has been downloaded from the internet only partially, try to redownload it.

3. Check if the user that you are logged as has administrative privileges.

Some files require elevated access rights to open them. Log out of your current account and log in to an account with sufficient access privileges. Then open the Adobe Director Movie file.

4. Make sure that the system has sufficient resources to run Adobe Director

If the system is under havy load, it may not be able to handle the program that you use to open files with DIR extension. In this case close the other applications.

5. Ensure that you have the latest drivers and system updates and patches installed

Up-to-date system and drivers not only makes your computer more secure, but also may solve problems with Adobe Director Movie file. It is possible that one of the available system or driver updates may solve the problems with DIR files affecting older versions of given software.

Do you want to help?

If you have additional information about the DIR file, we will be grateful if you share it with our users. To do this, use the form here and send us your information on DIR file.