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FLV to GIF Converter

Convert FLV to GIF online, free. Turn a clip into a shareable GIF.

  • Free to use
  • No file stored beyond 1 hour
  • Encrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3
  • No watermarks

Drag and drop your files here or click to upload.

Maximum file size is 1GB

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Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

  1. Upload your file

    Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

  2. Choose an output format

    Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

  3. Convert & download

    Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

Why convert FLV to GIF?

FLV is a video file and GIF is an image file. GIF opens on almost any device, while FLV often needs extra software.

  • Plays anywhere

    GIF plays automatically in chats, emails and web pages - no video player needed.

  • Opens everywhere

    GIF opens in every browser, phone and computer, while FLV needs VLC; browsers dropped Flash in 2020.

  • Where GIF works best

    Short, simple animations and small graphics (256 colors max).

FLV vs GIF: what's the difference?

PropertyFLVGIF
TypeVideoImage
CompressionLossy (smaller files, some quality loss)Lossless (no quality loss)
Transparent background—Yes
Animation—Yes
Opens inVLC; browsers dropped Flash in 2020Every browser, phone and computer
Best forOld Flash web videosShort, simple animations and small graphics (256 colors max)

What is an FLV file?

Flash Video

Developed By
Adobe Systems
Initial Release
2002
MIME Type
video/x-flv

The FLV (Flash Video) format is a container file format defined by Adobe Systems for delivering synchronized audio and video over the internet via the Adobe Flash Player. It supports various codecs, historically Sorenson Spark and VP6, and later H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) and AAC audio. FLV files were the dominant standard for web-based streaming video (YouTube, Hulu) during the 2000s, utilizing the RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) for transmission before being superseded by HTML5 standards.

How to open an FLV file

Since the End-of-Life (EOL) of Adobe Flash Player in 2020, browsers no longer support FLV natively. To play local FLV files, users must utilize third-party media players that maintain legacy codec support, such as VLC Media Player, MPC-HC, or MPV. For editing or conversion, tools like OBS Studio and HandBrake utilize the FFmpeg library to decode and process the container.

What is a GIF file?

Graphics Interchange Format

Developed By
CompuServe
Initial Release
1987
MIME Type
image/gif

The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a bitmap image format developed by CompuServe in 1987, distinguished by its use of the Lempel-Ziv-Welch (LZW) lossless data compression algorithm. It supports up to 8 bits per pixel, allowing a palette of 256 distinct colors selected from the 24-bit RGB color space. The GIF89a specification, introduced in 1989, added support for transparent backgrounds, animation delays, and application extensions, establishing it as a standard for simple web animations and low-color graphics.

How to open a GIF file

GIF files possess near-universal compatibility and can be opened natively by all modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and default operating system viewers like Microsoft Photos and Apple Preview. No third-party software is typically required for viewing. For editing frame-by-frame animations or modifying color palettes, raster graphics editors such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, or online tools like Ezgif are required.

Free tools for these files

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All video conversions

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

  • Convert FLV to GIF in seconds

    Every FLV to GIF conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

  • Fast, cloud-powered

    No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

  • Secure & private

    Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

  • Free - no account needed

    Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Convert FLV to GIF via API

Automate FLV to GIF conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "flv-to-gif",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/direct/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "input_format": "flv",
        "output_format": "gif"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (upload_url of the upload-file task in the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL&filename=input.flv" --upload-file input.flv

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

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