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FLV to MKV Converter

Turn FLV files into MKV in a couple of clicks. Obsolete Flash container. Convert to MP4 to keep it playable. Flexible container that holds any codec, subtitles and tracks. The output is re-encoded, so quality depends on the settings you choose.

On your deviceNever uploadedGone when you close the tabHow this works

Drop your files here

FLV files (.flv) · up to 512 MB each

or paste files from your clipboard

Ready when you are

Drop a FLV file above and FileTools360 will turn it into MKV — right here on your device, without uploading anything.

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How to use it

  1. 1

    Add your FLV files

    Drag them onto the upload area, choose them from your device, or paste them from your clipboard. You can queue several at once.

  2. 2

    Adjust the settings if you want to

    The defaults suit most people. Open Advanced to control codec, resolution and bitrate, the audio track and start and end times.

  3. 3

    Convert and download

    Press Convert. Everything happens on your own device — nothing is uploaded. Download files one by one, or grab them all as a ZIP.

FLV and MKV explained

FLV was the container behind Flash video, which dominated online video until browsers removed Flash support entirely at the end of 2020. Nothing plays FLV natively today.

Matroska is a container designed to hold essentially anything: any codec, unlimited audio tracks, subtitle tracks, chapters and attachments in one file. It is the format of choice for archiving films with multiple languages.

Where FLV files come from
Video downloaded or archived from the web before roughly 2015.
Where MKV is used
Media archives, anime and film collections, and high-quality recordings.

FLV vs MKV

The two formats solve different problems, which is why converting between them involves trade-offs rather than a straight upgrade.

FLV compared with MKV
PropertySourceTarget
CompressionContainer (depends on codec)Container (depends on codec)
AnimationYesYes
Introduced20022002
Browser supportEffectively dead — nothing plays it natively any more.Great in VLC and media servers, poor in browsers.
FLV is stronger at
Historically small files for their era.
MKV is stronger at
Holds any codec. Unlimited audio, subtitle and chapter tracks. Open and well documented.

Why convert FLV to MKV?

People make this switch when they run into the limits of FLV: always. If you have FLV files, convert them before the tooling to read them disappears entirely. MKV is the better fit when archiving or watching in a capable player such as VLC or a media server.

FLV limitations that prompt the switch
Effectively dead — no browser or modern player supports it. Low quality ceiling by current standards.
What you give up
Browsers will not play it. Many TVs, phones and editors reject it.

Does converting FLV to MKV reduce quality?

Both formats store the content without discarding data, so this conversion preserves it exactly. The file size may change because the two formats compress differently, but the content itself is unaffected.

About these formats

Source

Flash Video

Obsolete Flash container. Convert to MP4 to keep it playable.

Extensions
.flv
MIME type
video/x-flv
Best for
Recovering old archives
Compatibility
Effectively dead — nothing plays it natively any more.

Target

Matroska Video

Flexible container that holds any codec, subtitles and tracks.

Extensions
.mkv
MIME type
video/x-matroska
Best for
Multi-track video · Archiving · Media servers
Compatibility
Great in VLC and media servers, poor in browsers.

Legacy container. FileTools360 decodes it and re-encodes to a modern codec, so the result is future-proof.

Good to know

FLV to MKV Converter — questions

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FileTools360 by the numbers

521 converters and tools65 file formatsnothing ever uploaded.