---
title: ".flv file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .flv file is a Flash Video. The container that carried web video before HTML5 — obsolete but still on old drives. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/flv/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .flv files

**.flv file: Flash Video**

The container that carried web video before HTML5 — obsolete but still on old drives.

## What opens a .flv file

- **Windows:** VLC, MPC-HC
- **macOS:** VLC, IINA
- **Linux:** VLC, mpv

## What a .flv file is

FLV was how YouTube and every other video site delivered video through the Flash plugin until roughly 2015. Adobe Flash Player itself was discontinued at the end of 2020 and blocked from running, but the video inside an FLV is usually ordinary H.264 that VLC plays without complaint. Converting to MP4 is typically a fast remux with no quality loss.

## Converting it

A .flv file is commonly converted to .mp4, .mkv, .avi or .mp3. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .flv
- **Full name:** Flash Video
- **Category:** Video
- **MIME type:** video/x-flv
- **Created by:** Macromedia / Adobe
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .flv file?

On Windows use VLC; on macOS use VLC; on Linux use VLC. The container that carried web video before HTML5 — obsolete but still on old drives.

### What is a .flv file?

Flash Video. FLV was how YouTube and every other video site delivered video through the Flash plugin until roughly 2015. Adobe Flash Player itself was discontinued at the end of 2020 and blocked from running, but the video inside an FLV is usually ordinary H.264 that VLC plays without complaint.

### Can I convert a .flv file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .mp4, .mkv, .avi or .mp3, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.mp4 — MPEG-4 Part 14 Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mp4/)
- [.mov — QuickTime Movie](https://atoneplace.net/file/mov/)
- [.mkv — Matroska Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mkv/)
- [.avi — Audio Video Interleave](https://atoneplace.net/file/avi/)
- [.srt — SubRip Subtitle](https://atoneplace.net/file/srt/)
- [.webm — WebM Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/webm/)
- [.ts — MPEG Transport Stream](https://atoneplace.net/file/ts/)
- [.wmv — Windows Media Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/wmv/)
- [.mpg — MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mpg/)
- [.m4v — iTunes Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4v/)
- [.vtt — WebVTT Caption](https://atoneplace.net/file/vtt/)
- [.swf — Shockwave Flash Movie](https://atoneplace.net/file/swf/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)