Flash Video — Adobe Flash video container, historically used for streaming.
Quick facts
What is .flv
A .flv file is a Flash Video — Adobe Flash video container, historically used for streaming.
In the mime-db registry it maps to video/x-flv, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .flv over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to video/x-flv — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .flv files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: video/x-flv
Common software that reads/writes .flv:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .flv files
How to create .flv files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include VLC, ffmpeg. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .flv extension.
video/x-flv is the media type identifier used for .flv files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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