5 file types use the .acf file extension.

What is an ACF file?

An ACF file is a cache file used by Valve Steam, a software package used for downloading games. It saves information related to the downloaded software and is used for the original download as well as game updates.

More Information

Category: Game Files

X-Plane Aircraft File

Aircraft file used by X-Plane, a realistic flight simulator for pilots and simulator hobbyists; contains data that describes the properties of the aircraft, such as engine power, flight physics, mass properties, and limits.

You can create an ACF file using Plane-Maker, which is a utility that comes with X-Plane. However, Plane-Maker does not enable you to create a 3D model, it is only used to determine the layout of basic aerodynamic shapes and properties of the aircraft. You can use the AC3D application with the X-Plane plugin to create a 3D model in the X-Plane OBJ format.

NOTE: Before version 10 of X-Plane, the ACF file contained aircraft data in binary format. It now contains data in text format.

Programs that open or reference ACF files

Updated: September 28, 2015

Adobe Photoshop Custom Filter File

Convolution kernel file created by Adobe Photoshop, an image-editing program; contains a NxN kernel matrix of values used to manipulate the neighboring pixels surrounding a given pixel; can contain positive and negative values as well as mathematical expressions.

Convolution kernel matrixes can be used for blurring, sharpening, embossing, or performing other raster graphic operations to an image; once saved in an ACF file, they can be repeatedly applied to images.

Programs that open or reference ACF files

Updated: February 14, 2014

Agent Character Data File

Data file that describes a character created for Microsoft Agent, an interactive animation program; contains character data that can be loaded over the HTTP (or Web) protocol; saved along with a corresponding .ACA file, which contains animation data for the character.

NOTE: Microsoft Agent has been discontinued with the release of Windows 7.

Programs that open or reference ACF files

Updated: October 30, 2009

Google Earth Pro Aircraft

An ACF file may also be a plain text file used to simulate an aircraft in Google Earth Pro's flight simulator. It defines the aircraft's name, description, and properties. By default, Google Earth Pro contains two ACF files: one use to simulate an F-16 and another used to simulate an SR22.

Google Earth Pro is the desktop PC version of Google Earth. It is primarily used to view satellite imagery and terrain maps, but it also includes many other features. One of those additional features is a flight simulator that allows you to simulate flying an airplane over the Earth.

By default, Google Earth Pro allows you to simulate flying an F-16 and an SR22. The settings that define how these aircraft fly are stored in ACF files. Google Earth Pro's ACF files are stored in its ~/​flightsim/​aircraft directory.

You cannot add additional ACF files to Google Earth Pro. However, you can copy, modify, and replace the app's existing ACF files, to modify how each simulated aircraft flies.

F16.acf - The file Google Earth Pro uses to simulate flying an F-16.

SR22.acf - The file Google Earth Pro uses to simulate flying an SR22.

If you want to view or edit the data an ACF file contains, you can open it with Microsoft Visual Studio Code (multiplatform) or any other text editor. If you want to use an ACF file with Google Earth Pro (multiplatform), you must replace one of the app's two existing ACF files.

Programs that open or reference ACF files

Updated: January 19, 2023