What is the FBR file format?
.fbr is a proprietary screen-recording container developed by Blueberry Software Ltd for the FlashBack screen-capture suite. Unlike a standard video stream, a .fbr file stores the captured screen as efficient vector/frame-differential data together with separate audio tracks (system sound and microphone) and editing metadata - which is why it must be opened in FlashBack rather than a regular media player.
.fbr files are editable and can be used to create various tutorial videos or screencasts. FlashBack also supports video embedding and many advanced editing tools. The free FlashBack Player and FlashBack Express allow playback of .fbr files, while the full FlashBack Pro is capable of exporting created videos to many popular media formats - including .mp4, .avi, and .gif - or sharing them over the internet.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWAn FBR is recorded screen/audio data, not an executable, so the file itself is low-risk. Two practical cautions: download FlashBack only from the official flashbackrecorder.com (avoid 'FBR player/converter' downloads on ad portals that bundle adware), and remember a screen recording may inadvertently capture passwords, emails or private windows - review before sharing or exporting.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open FBR files
Windows3 apps
FlashBack Player (free)
Free Install the free FlashBack Player, then double-click the .fbr to play it. The dedicated player for FBR recordings.
FlashBack Express (free)
Free Open the .fbr in FlashBack Express to play, lightly edit and export it to MP4/GIF/WMV. Free edition, no watermark.
FlashBack Pro
Paid Open the .fbr in FlashBack Pro for full editing (annotations, effects) and export to all formats. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Blueberry Software Ltd |
| Platform | Windows only - no native macOS or Linux support |
| Container structure | Proprietary multi-track container; not a standard video stream |
| Screen data encoding | Captured screen stored as vector/frame-differential data rather than raw pixel video |
| Audio tracks | Stores system audio and microphone as separate tracks inside the container |
| Cursor data | Records mouse cursor position, movement and click events as a separate metadata layer |
| Webcam overlay | Can embed a webcam video track alongside the screen capture within one .fbr file |
| Editing metadata | Contains timeline, annotations, callouts and zoom-pan keyframes used by the FlashBack editor |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream (no dedicated MIME type registered) |
| Magic bytes | No documented public magic-byte signature; format is not self-identifying |
| Player compatibility | Must be opened in FlashBack Player, Express or Pro; incompatible with standard media players |
| Export targets | FlashBack Pro can publish to MP4, AVI, WMV, GIF and upload directly to YouTube/Vimeo |
| Compression | Proprietary screen compression - efficient for UI/document content, less so for full-motion video |
| File size | Generally smaller than equivalent MP4 for screen content due to vector/differential encoding |
| Released | 2003 (BB FlashBack); current FlashBack 7.x |
| Specification | www.flashbackrecorder.com |
FBR conversions
Community Q&A
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