Video conversion
Convert M4V to FLV
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is Apple's video container, used by iTunes movies, TV shows, and videos synced to iPhones and iPads. FLV is an older web video format built for Flash players. To convert M4V to FLV, open the file in a converter and re-wrap or re-encode it into the FLV container. You can do this on your own computer, without uploading the video anywhere.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .flv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy web video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to FLV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to FLV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, at once.
- Choose FLV as the output format.
- Convert. The FLV is written next to your original, and the video never leaves your machine.
M4V vs FLV: what actually changes
| M4V | FLV | |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Plays natively on Apple devices, iTunes, and Apple TV | Needs an old Flash-based player, since modern browsers dropped Flash support |
| File size | Compact, modern compression | Similar for the same quality setting, though FLV encodes were often kept small for older, slower connections |
| Quality | High, depending on the original export | Comparable, with a small re-encoding loss unless the container is simply re-wrapped |
| Copy protection | iTunes movie and TV purchases can carry Apple's DRM | None, FLV has no copy protection of its own |
| Typical use today | Personal video, home movies, downloaded iTunes content | Legacy web players, older security systems, and some existing video pipelines |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to FLV when something specific still requires it, like an older content system, embedded device, or existing workflow built around Flash-era video.
Keep the M4V if you're just watching or storing the video normally, since FLV playback support has largely disappeared from modern browsers and devices.
Why not just use an online converter?
Home movies and personal recordings saved as M4V often aren't meant for anyone but you. Sending that file through an online converter means it sits on someone else's server, even briefly. Converting on your own computer means the video stays exactly where you put it, on your own drive.
Questions
Does converting M4V to FLV lose quality?
If the video is re-encoded, there's a small, one-time quality loss, similar to any format conversion. If the underlying video data is compatible and just gets re-wrapped, there's little to no loss.
Can I convert a movie I bought from iTunes to FLV?
Only if it's not copy-protected. Many iTunes movie and TV purchases carry Apple's DRM, which blocks conversion by design. Personal videos and non-DRM M4V files convert without issue.
Is FLV still used anywhere in 2026?
Rarely for general viewing, since browsers dropped Flash years ago. It still shows up in some older web systems, embedded players, and legacy video pipelines that haven't been updated.
Will the FLV keep the video's metadata?
Basic details like duration and resolution carry over. FLV is an older, simpler container, so it doesn't preserve everything an M4V file can hold, like chapter markers.
Can I convert M4V to FLV without uploading the file?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the video on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts M4V, FLV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.