Open FLV files

  • Full name
    Flash Video Format
  • Developer
    Adobe Systems
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a FLV file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a FLV file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your FLV file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is FLV file?

The FLV extension identifies Flash video files. By using it on Youtube and similar sites, it has become the standard format for streaming Internet video.

More info

The format was developed by Macromedia and is being further developed by Adobe today. It's a proprietary format, but it's also made available to other developers.

Like MOV, FLV is a container format. The files contain a video and audio stream as well as metadata. The included audio and video data may be encoded using various compression techniques. Which ones are depends on the desired compatibility with the Flashplayer plugin. With higher versions, other methods are available that also support HD resolutions.

Any browser with Adobe Flashplayer plugin can play FLV files.

Programs which can open a FLV file

How to open file with FLV extension?

In order to open a file with FLV extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening FLV file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with FLV files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install Adobe Flash or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening FLV files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support FLV files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of FLV files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set Adobe Flash as the default program for opening FLV files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate FLV files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the Adobe Flash applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Adobe Flash has been installed.

2
3
Check the section that lists most common problems with FLV files

Sometimes problems with opening FLV files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • FLV files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open FLV files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • FLV file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

Possible conversions of FLV file

Similar extensions