FLV to AVI Converter

FLV to AVI — Which Should You Convert To?

You're starting from a dead format and choosing between two old ones. FLV (Adobe Flash Video) stopped playing in browsers when Flash Player reached end-of-life on December 31, 2020, so you do need to convert it to something. AVI is the right target in one specific case: you're feeding the file into an older Windows editing or capture workflow — VirtualDub-era tools, a DirectShow pipeline, or a device that only ingests .avi. If your goal is just to watch the clip again on a phone, browser, or smart TV, AVI is the wrong choice — convert FLV to MP4 instead. For an open container that carries subtitles and modern codecs cleanly, convert FLV to MKV.

Side-by-side Comparison

Both formats are old, and this conversion does not improve the picture. FLV's video is already a lossy stream, and re-wrapping it as AVI means a re-encode (FLV's codecs aren't valid inside AVI), so expect a small amount of generational loss. Early FLV clips were often 240p–360p; the AVI you get out will be no sharper than the source — converting can't add detail that was never recorded.

When to Pick AVI

• You're importing into an older Windows editor or capture suite (VirtualDub, legacy Premiere/Vegas projects) that expects .avi.
• You're feeding a DirectShow-based pipeline or a hardware device whose only documented input is AVI.
• You want a specific intra-frame codec like MJPEG or Xvid for frame-accurate scrubbing in an old NLE.
• Compatibility with a decades-old player matters more than file size.

When to Pick MP4 or MKV Instead

• You just want the clip to play again — on a phone, in a browser, or on a TV. Use FLV to MP4; H.264-in-MP4 plays almost everywhere.
• You need smaller files at the same quality. AVI has high container overhead and weak support for modern compression; MP4 is far more efficient.
• You want to keep subtitles, chapters, or multiple audio tracks — AVI can't, so use FLV to MKV.
• You're archiving for the long term and want a format that current software still actively develops.

How to Convert FLV to AVI

1. Upload Your FLV File: Drag and drop your .flv file onto the page or click "+ Add Files." You can queue several clips and convert them all in one batch.
2. Choose the Video Codec: AVI defaults to MPEG-4 video with MP3 audio. Open Advanced Options and use Video Codec to switch to H.264, Xvid, DivX, or MJPEG if your target tool needs a specific one.
3. Set Quality, Resolution, or Trim (Optional): Leave Quality Preset on "Very High (Recommended)," or use Specific file size to cap the output. Video resolution and Preset Resolutions rescale the frame, and Trim (Time Range) keeps only the segment you want.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and save your AVI. No sign-up, no watermark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't my FLV file play anymore?

FLV depended on Adobe Flash Player, and Adobe ended support for Flash on December 31, 2020, then began actively blocking Flash content from running on January 12, 2021. No mainstream browser ships a Flash runtime today, so the container is effectively dead for playback. The video and audio inside are usually fine — converting to AVI (or, for modern playback, MP4) is how you get at them again.

Is AVI actually a good choice in 2026?

Only for narrow reasons. AVI is a 1992 Microsoft container that predates modern compression, has high per-file overhead, and can't carry soft subtitles or chapters. It's the right pick if an old Windows editor, a DirectShow workflow, or a specific device requires .avi — but if you simply want to watch the clip, MP4 is smaller, sharper for the same size, and plays in any browser. Choose AVI deliberately, not by default.

Will I lose quality converting FLV to AVI?

Some. FLV stores video with codecs (Sorenson Spark, On2 VP6, or H.264) that aren't valid inside an AVI container, so the video has to be re-encoded — a second lossy pass that adds a little generational loss. It also won't look better than the source: a 360p FLV produces a 360p-quality AVI. Leaving the Quality Preset on "Very High" keeps the loss minimal; pushing Specific file size too low is what causes visible pixelation.

Which codec should I put inside the AVI?

It depends on the tool reading it. MPEG-4 (the default) and H.264 give the best size-to-quality and are widely understood by editors. Xvid and DivX suit older players that expect those specific codecs. MJPEG stores each frame independently, which old non-linear editors like for frame-accurate scrubbing — at the cost of much larger files. If you're unsure, leave it on MPEG-4.

Can the AVI keep the subtitles or chapters from my source?

No — and that's a container limitation, not a setting. AVI has no standard way to hold soft subtitles, chapter markers, or attached fonts; that's one of the reasons it's considered legacy. If you need any of those, convert FLV to MKV instead, since MKV was designed to carry multiple subtitle and audio tracks alongside the video.

How small can I make the output, and is the upload private?

Use Specific file size to cap the result, or lower the Video resolution — but remember AVI is an inefficient container, so for a given quality it will be larger than the equivalent MP4. In our testing, a 60-second 360p FLV re-encoded to MPEG-4 AVI at the "Very High" preset landed near 9 MB, versus roughly 3 MB as H.264 MP4 at the same resolution. Your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically a few hours after conversion — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared or made public. On a very large FLV the real limit is upload time, not your device.