Video conversion
Convert FLV to GIF
Updated Jul 2026
FLV is an old Flash-era video format most browsers can no longer play, and GIF is a looping image format that works everywhere. To convert, open the FLV in a converter and export it as GIF. Doing this on your own computer keeps the clip off other people's servers, and works even without an internet connection.
- Extension
- .flv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy web video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .gif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Animations, memes
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert FLV to GIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert FLV to GIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the FLV file, or a whole folder of old FLV clips, that you want to convert.
- Choose GIF as the output format. Since FLV has sound and GIF doesn't, the audio track will be dropped.
- Convert. The GIF is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
FLV vs GIF: what actually changes
| FLV | GIF | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Compact, uses efficient video compression | Much larger for the same clip, especially past a few seconds |
| Sound | Yes, carries an audio track | No, GIF has no audio at all |
| Color depth | Millions of colors | Limited to 256 colors per frame |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs an old browser plugin most computers no longer have | Yes, opens in any browser, chat app, or image viewer |
| Loops automatically | No, needs a video player to press play | Yes, plays on loop wherever images can appear |
| Transparency | No | Yes, supports transparency |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert FLV to GIF when you want to turn an old clip into a short, looping animation you can drop into a chat, forum post, or webpage without anyone needing a video player.
Keep the FLV, or convert it to a modern video format instead, if you need the sound or the clip runs more than a few seconds, since GIF drops audio and gets large fast.
Why not just use an online converter?
FLV files are often old downloads sitting around from sites that used Flash video years ago, and turning one into a GIF usually means uploading it to some site that promises to convert it for free. That upload puts your clip on a stranger's server, even if just for a few minutes. Converting on your own computer skips that step entirely, so the file never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting FLV to GIF keep the sound?
No. GIF has no audio support at all, so whatever sound was in the FLV is gone in the GIF. If you need the audio, keep the FLV or convert to a modern video format instead.
Will the GIF be bigger than the original FLV?
Often, yes. Video compression is much more efficient than GIF's frame-by-frame approach, so a GIF of the same clip can end up several times larger, especially if it runs more than a few seconds.
Can I still open old FLV files at all?
Most current browsers dropped support for the plugin that used to play Flash video, so an FLV file that opened fine years ago may not open in anything today. Converting it to GIF, or a modern video format, is often the easiest way to actually watch it again.
Does the GIF lose picture quality?
Yes, some. GIF is limited to 256 colors per frame, so gradients and detailed footage can look noticeably flatter than the original FLV. It's fine for short, simple clips and memes, less so for anything with rich color.
Can I convert FLV to GIF without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to travel over the internet, even with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts FLV, GIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.