How to convert a .FLV file online
Three steps, all tab.
Open your file
Drop your .FLV file and every video, audio and subtitle track inside is listed with its codec, resolution, frame rate and language.
Preview
See frames from across your .FLV file before you convert, even when your browser can't play the codec inside.
Convert
Pick MP4, WEBM or MP3, or repack to MKV without re-encoding. Play the result right here, then download it.
What is a .FLV file?
Everything worth knowing about Flash Video.
An FLV (Flash Video) file is a video made for Adobe Flash Player, the format YouTube and most streaming sites used through the 2000s. Flash is dead since December 2020, but VLC media player opens FLV files on any platform without Flash. The practical fix is to convert the file to MP4, which plays everywhere.
Programs that open .FLV files
- Windows
- VLC media player, HandBrake, MPC-HC (clsid2 fork), PotPlayer
- macOS
- VLC media player, HandBrake
- Linux
- VLC media player, FFmpeg
- Web
- CloudConvert
| Full name | Flash Video |
|---|---|
| Developer | Adobe Systems (originally Macromedia / On2 / Sorenson) |
| First released | 2002 (Macromedia Flash MX / Flash Player 6); spec later published by Adobe, then frozen after Flash EOL |
| Category | Audio & Video |
| MIME type | video/x-flv |
| Signature | 46 4C 56 01 ("FLV" + version byte 0x01) |
Related viewers
Other free tools to open and preview your files.
Is my .FLV file uploaded to a server?
No. Your .FLV file is converted for you. The converted file is created in memory,.
Why is conversion slower than desktop software?
Browsers give web pages a single CPU core for this kind of work and no hardware video encoder. Short clips convert in seconds; for long 4K films a desktop app like HandBrake is faster. Use Start and Length to convert just the part you need.
Which output format should I pick?
MP4 plays on every phone, TV and browser. WEBM is an open format that's great for the web. MP3 keeps only the sound. MKV (no re-encode) is instant and lossless, but only changes the container.
Can I keep all audio tracks and subtitles?
The MKV (no re-encode) option copies every track as-is. MP4 and WEBM keep the first video and audio track, which is what most players use.
Why can't some files be converted?
Files protected with DRM (for example purchased iTunes .m4p songs or some .wmv rentals) are encrypted. We can show what's inside, but nobody can convert them without the key.
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