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Convert FLV to MP4 - Rescue Your Flash Videos

Convert Flash videos to MP4 for playback on any device without Flash Player.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Can't Play Your FLV Files Anymore?

FLV (Flash Video) files no longer work in modern browsers. Adobe officially discontinued Flash Player in December 2020, and browsers have removed Flash support entirely. Those old Flash videos you downloaded are now unplayable.

Converting to MP4 brings your FLV files back to life. MP4 is the universal video format that plays natively on every device-smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and all modern browsers without any plugins.

How to Convert FLV to MP4

  1. Upload your FLV file - Drag and drop or browse to select your Flash video
  2. Confirm MP4 output - H.264 encoding ensures universal playback on any device
  3. Download your file - Get your converted video ready for modern players

Conversion happens securely in your browser. No Flash Player required, no software to install.

Why FLV Files Stopped Working

FLV was the dominant web video format from 2002-2015. YouTube originally used FLV before switching to MP4. But Flash had critical problems:

  • Security vulnerabilities - Flash Player had constant security issues, leading Adobe to discontinue it
  • Mobile incompatibility - Apple never supported Flash on iPhone or iPad
  • Browser removal - Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge have all removed Flash support
  • Codec limitations - FLV uses older codecs like Sorenson Spark that lack modern efficiency

MP4 with H.264 solves everything-secure, universally supported, and far more efficient.

What You Gain by Converting

Universal Playback

MP4 plays on every modern device without plugins. Smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles-all support MP4 natively.

Smaller File Sizes

H.264 compression in MP4 is roughly 25-50% more efficient than FLV codecs. Your videos get smaller while looking the same or better.

No Security Risks

FLV files required Flash Player, which Adobe retired due to security concerns. MP4 plays in HTML5 video players with no plugins needed.

Future-Proof Format

MP4 has been the standard since YouTube adopted it in 2008. Your converted videos will remain playable for decades.

Common FLV Sources

Downloaded Web Videos

Videos downloaded from the web between 2005-2015 are often FLV format. These include saved YouTube videos, online tutorials, and entertainment clips from the Flash era.

Screen Recordings

Older screen recording software like Camtasia and Fraps could output FLV. Convert these to MP4 for modern sharing and playback.

Flash Games and Animations

Cutscenes and videos extracted from Flash games or animations are typically FLV. Preserve this content by converting to MP4.

Old Video Archives

Many people have folders of FLV files they downloaded years ago. Don't let these become unplayable-convert them now.

FLV vs MP4: Technical Comparison

Understanding the technical differences helps explain why conversion is necessary:

  • Choose MP4 when: You need universal playback, mobile compatibility, web sharing, or long-term archiving
  • FLV limitations: No HEVC support, larger files, requires deprecated Flash Player, software-only decoding

MP4 supports hardware decoding on modern devices, saving battery life and enabling smooth 4K playback. FLV can only be software decoded, consuming more resources.

Batch Convert Multiple FLV Files

Have a collection of Flash videos? Upload multiple FLV files and convert them all to MP4 in one batch. Perfect for rescuing entire folders of Flash-era content before the files become permanently inaccessible.

Works on Any Device

No software installation needed. Convert FLV to MP4 directly in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android

Pro Tip

If your FLV files use the older Sorenson Spark codec (common in pre-2007 Flash videos), expect significant file size reduction with no quality loss when converting to MP4.

Common Mistake

Trying to install Flash Player to play FLV files. Flash is discontinued and poses security risks. Converting to MP4 is the safe, permanent solution.

Best For

Rescuing old web video downloads, making Flash-era content playable on phones and tablets, archiving video collections in a future-proof format.

Not Recommended

If you're extracting video from Flash SWF files (animations/games), you may need specialized tools first. This converter handles FLV video files, not interactive Flash content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adobe discontinued Flash Player in December 2020 due to security vulnerabilities. All major browsers have removed Flash support. FLV files require conversion to MP4 or another modern format to play.

Yes. Our converter processes files in your browser without requiring Flash Player. The resulting MP4 uses standard HTML5-compatible codecs, eliminating the security risks associated with Flash.

Quality loss is minimal with proper encoding. Since FLV typically uses older codecs with lower efficiency, the MP4 output often looks equally good at a smaller file size.

Typically 20-50% smaller. FLV files using Sorenson Spark or VP6 codecs are less efficient than H.264. A 100MB FLV might convert to 50-80MB MP4 with identical visual quality.

Yes. MP4 is natively supported on all iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Unlike FLV, no special apps or players are needed.

Adobe officially ended Flash Player support on December 31, 2020. They recommend uninstalling it due to security risks. This made FLV files essentially unplayable without conversion.

VLC can play most FLV files, but converting to MP4 provides better compatibility across all devices and apps. MP4 also enables hardware acceleration for smoother playback.

Yes. Videos downloaded from YouTube in FLV format (common before 2010) convert perfectly to MP4. The quality remains the same as your original download.

Processing time depends on file size. A typical 100MB video converts in 30-90 seconds. Larger files or slow connections take longer.

Yes. Our converter works in Safari and all browsers on Mac. No additional software or plugins needed-just upload and convert.

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