.flvWhat is FLV?
Flash Video
Adobe Flash Video — the web standard of 2005–2015, now legacy
- Container
- Flash Video (FLV) / F4V
- Video codec
- Sorenson Spark, VP6, H.264
- Audio codec
- MP3, AAC, Speex
- File extension
- .flv, .f4v
FLV (Flash Video) was the dominant web video format from roughly 2005 to 2015, used by YouTube, Vimeo, and most video-sharing sites before HTML5 video became standard. It required the Adobe Flash Player browser plugin to play, and when Flash Player was officially discontinued on 31 December 2020, FLV became a legacy format that modern browsers and devices can no longer play without conversion.
Today, FLV files are mainly encountered when retrieving old web video archives or working with legacy broadcast systems. If you have FLV files, converting them to MP4 is the standard solution — MP4 plays in every browser natively without any plugin, and the conversion preserves all video and audio quality.
Technical Specifications
| Container | Flash Video (FLV) / F4V |
| Video codec | Sorenson Spark, VP6, H.264 |
| Audio codec | MP3, AAC, Speex |
| File extension | .flv, .f4v |
| MIME type | video/x-flv |
| Browser support | None (Flash Player discontinued Dec 2020) |
| Platform origin | Macromedia / Adobe (2002) |
Advantages & Limitations
Advantages
- Still accepted by some legacy RTMP streaming servers
- Widely encountered in video archives from 2005–2015
- H.264-based FLV files are high quality
Limitations
- Flash Player discontinued — no modern browser plays FLV
- Not supported on mobile devices or tablets
- Cannot be embedded in modern HTML5 websites
- Actively blocked by Chrome and Firefox for security reasons
Common Use Cases
- Converting old web video archives to modern formats
- Legacy RTMP streaming server compatibility
- Recovering video from archived Flash-based websites
- Accessing content from 2005–2015 video archives
Compatible Software & Platforms
FLV is natively supported by:
Convert FLV Files — Free Online Tools
Convert from FLV
Convert to FLV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a FLV file?
A FLV file is a video file using the Flash Video format. FLV (Flash Video) was the dominant web video format from roughly 2005 to 2015, used by YouTube, Vimeo, and most video-sharing sites before HTML5 video became standard.
What programs open FLV files?
FLV files are supported by: VLC (for playback), FFmpeg (for conversion), Legacy RTMP servers, Adobe Media Encoder, and most modern media players and editors.
What are FLV files used for?
Common uses include: Converting old web video archives to modern formats; Legacy RTMP streaming server compatibility; Recovering video from archived Flash-based websites.
FLV vs MP4: what is the difference?
MP4 is the modern replacement — it plays everywhere FLV no longer can. FLV is typically chosen for converting old web video archives to modern formats, while MP4 is preferred for uploading to youtube, tiktok, instagram, and vimeo.
How do I convert a FLV file?
Convert FLV files online for free at MediaFormatter. Upload your file, choose a target format, and download the result — no installation or sign-up needed.