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FLV to MP4 Converter

Convert FLV to MP4 online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

  • 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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How it works

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. 01

    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. 02

    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. 03

    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.

FLV to MP4

Why convert FLV to MP4?

FLV and MP4 are both lossy formats. MP4 opens on almost any device, while FLV often needs extra software.

  • Opens everywhere

    MP4 opens in every phone, computer, smart TV and browser, while FLV needs VLC; browsers dropped Flash in 2020.

  • Where MP4 works best

    Sharing, streaming and playing video anywhere.

FLV vs MP4: what's the difference?

PropertyFLVMP4
TypeVideoVideo
CompressionLossy (smaller files, some quality loss)Lossy (smaller files, some quality loss)
Opens inVLC; browsers dropped Flash in 2020Every phone, computer, smart TV and browser
Best forOld Flash web videosSharing, streaming and playing video anywhere

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video (YouTube, Hulu) during the 2000s, utilizing the RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) for transmission before being superseded by HTML5 standards.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 an MP4 file?

MPEG-4 Part 14

Developed By
ISO / IEC
Initial Release
2001
MIME Type
video/mp4

MPEG-4 Part 14 (MP4) is a digital multimedia container format defined by ISO/IEC 14496-14. Based directly on the QuickTime File Format (QTFF), it allows for streaming over the Internet and is the global standard for video compatibility. An MP4 file can store video streams (encoded with H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, or MPEG-4 Visual), audio streams (typically AAC or MP3), subtitles, and still images. It utilizes object-oriented structures specifically designed to support initial object descriptors (IOD) and other MPEG features.

How to open an MP4 file

MP4 is the most widely supported video format in existence. It opens natively on virtually all modern operating systems including Windows (via Movies & TV or Windows Media Player), macOS (QuickTime), Android, and iOS. Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) also support native MP4 playback via the HTML5 video tag. No external software is generally required, though VLC Media Player is useful for MP4 files containing obscure codecs.

More tools

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Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

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

  • Convert FLV to MP4 in seconds

    Every FLV to MP4 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.

Developer API

Convert FLV to MP4 via API

Automate FLV to MP4 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-mp4",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/direct/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "input_format": "flv",
        "output_format": "mp4"
      },
      "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"

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about converting FLV to MP4 with RunConvert.

Upload your .flv file, select MP4 as the output, and click Convert. This modernizes old Flash-based video for playback on today's devices.

FLV was widely used for web video before Flash was discontinued. Most modern browsers and devices no longer play FLV, so converting to MP4 is the best way to keep old video files usable.

Ready to convert FLV to MP4?

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