Video format
The FLV format
FLV is the video format of the Flash-era web. FLV was the video format of Adobe Flash Player from 2002; browsers dropped Flash at the end of 2020.
When to use FLV
You only need FLV for streaming software or an old system that asks for it.
It is best for RTMP live-streaming pipelines that still expect it, and it opens on VLC and some streaming software; no browser or phone plays it any more.
How to open it: VLC and mpv play FLV files.
| Full name | Flash Video |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .flv |
| MIME type | video/x-flv |
| Introduced | 2002 |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.264 or Sorenson Spark video with AAC or MP3 audio |
| Support | Legacy format |
| Typical size | Usually low resolution and modest size |
Good at
- Still accepted by RTMP streaming servers
Not so good at
- No modern browser, phone or editor supports it
The common mistake
Old FLVs often use the Sorenson Spark codec, which nothing modern decodes, so they must be re-encoded rather than just renamed.
Questions
What is an FLV file?
FLV (Flash Video) is the video format of the Flash-era web. FLV was the video format of Adobe Flash Player from 2002; browsers dropped Flash at the end of 2020.
How do I open an FLV file?
VLC and mpv play FLV files.
How do I convert FLV to another format?
Pick the target on this page, or open the Video Converter, drop the FLV file and choose a format. It converts in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.