Video conversion
Convert FLV to M4V
FLV is an older format built for Flash-based web video, and M4V is Apple's own video format, made for its media software and devices. To convert FLV to M4V, open the file in a converter and export it as M4V. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere first.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .flv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy web video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert FLV to M4V on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert FLV to M4V
- Open Morphjet and drag in the FLV file, or a whole folder of them, at once.
- Choose M4V as the output format.
- Convert. The M4V is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
FLV vs M4V: what actually changes
| FLV | M4V | |
|---|---|---|
| Plays in Apple's media software | No | Yes, built for this |
| Still easy to play today | Rarely, needs an old Flash plugin or a dedicated app | Yes, widely supported |
| File size | Small, older compression | Similar, sometimes smaller with a modern codec |
| Quality | Lower, dated video compression | Better codec, though re-encoding adds a small extra loss |
| Chapter markers | No | Yes, M4V supports them |
| Made for | Old Flash-based web players | Apple's software and devices |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert FLV to M4V when you've got old Flash-era video, like downloaded clips or old web recordings, and you want to watch it in Apple's media software without hunting for special software to open it.
If you just need something that plays on a Windows PC or in a browser, MP4 is the more common choice, since M4V is built specifically around Apple's software.
Why not just use an online converter?
FLV files often come from downloaded videos, old home movies, or recordings people would rather not hand to a stranger's server just to change the format. An online converter uploads the file first and processes it somewhere else. Converting on your own computer keeps the video right where it is the whole time.
Questions
Does converting FLV to M4V lose quality?
A little. FLV video was already compressed once, and M4V compresses it again on export, so there's a small additional loss. It's usually not noticeable for casual viewing, but it's not a lossless swap either.
Can I even open FLV files anymore?
Not easily. FLV depended on the Flash browser plugin, which was retired years ago, so most modern browsers and media players won't open it directly. That's usually why people convert it in the first place.
Will the M4V keep any metadata from the FLV?
Basic details like duration and resolution carry over. FLV files rarely carry much metadata to begin with, so there isn't much to lose either way.
Why M4V instead of MP4?
M4V is really just Apple's variant of MP4, made to work smoothly with Apple's media software and devices, including things like chapter markers. If you don't use Apple software, MP4 is the more universal choice.
Can I convert FLV to M4V without uploading the file 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 turned off.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.