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What is a FLV file?

FLV files are videos saved with a .FLV file extension, developed by Adobe Flash Player to play multimedia content on the internet. Adobe Flash Player was one of the most popular ways to stream video files on the web until it was discontinued in 2020. Most web browsers had the Flash Player plug-in installed by default to enable video and online games.

FLV stands for “Flash Video.” As a container file, FLV stores and plays synchronized video and audio streams. It also contains metadata. FLV files typically use the codecs H.264 and H.263 for video and MP3 for audio.

History of the FLV file.

While the original Adobe Flash Player was first released in 1996, the FLV file format didn’t launch until 2003, coinciding with Adobe Flash Player 7. Flash Video became the standard video format for online streaming.

After support for Flash Player ended in 2020, the FLV format became less common. (In the interest of security, it’s a good idea to uninstall Flash Player as there will not be any more patches or updates to protect your computer.)

Because Flash Player has been phased out, you may need to convert your FLVs to a similar filetype to use your them across more platforms. This could be to MP4 or WEBM, which are more common today.

How to open a FLV file.

FLV files are relatively straightforward to open on Windows and Mac since they’re compatible with several third-party cross-platform media players, including:

  • VLC Media Player (Windows and Mac)
  • Winamp (Windows and Mac)
  • MPC-HC (Media Player Classic Home Cinema, Windows only)

To open an FLV file, simply follow these steps:

  1. Make sure to install a compatible FLV media player.
  2. Double-click your FLV file, or right-click and select “Open with…” to choose a specific media player.
  3. Your video file will open with one of the compatible media players you have installed, ready to play.

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