Video conversion
Convert MOV to FLV
Updated Jul 2026
MOV is the video format your iPhone or Mac records in, while FLV is the older Flash Video format some legacy players and web systems still expect. To convert MOV to FLV, open the file in a converter and export it as FLV. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere first.
- Extension
- .mov
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iPhone / Mac recordings
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .flv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy web video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert MOV to FLV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MOV to FLV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MOV file, or a whole folder of clips, that you need in FLV.
- Choose FLV as the output format.
- Convert. The FLV file is written right next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
MOV vs FLV: what actually changes
| MOV | FLV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Larger, especially at high resolution | Smaller, built for older, slower connections |
| Quality | High, modern compression | Lower, and export adds a further one-time loss |
| Modern device and app support | Wide, especially on Apple devices | Limited, most current software has dropped it |
| Legacy web and Flash-based system support | No | Yes, this is what it was built for |
| Max resolution in practice | Handles 4K and beyond | Best suited to older, lower resolutions |
| Keeps recording date and location | Yes | Usually not carried over |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MOV to FLV when you're feeding an old CMS, digital signage box, kiosk, or Flash-based player that was built before 2015 and only accepts FLV, or when you're restoring archived web content that expects that format.
If you just need to play, edit, or share the video normally, keep the MOV, since FLV is a fading format with shrinking support and no real upside outside of those specific legacy systems.
Why not just use an online converter?
An online converter means uploading your video to a server you don't control just to get an old file format back. That's a lot of trust to hand over for what's usually a narrow, specific need. Converting on your own computer keeps the clip local the entire time, whether you're pulling it off an iPhone or digging it out of an old project folder.
Questions
Does converting MOV to FLV lose quality?
Yes, some. FLV uses older, less efficient compression than MOV, so the export both re-encodes the video and targets a lower bar for quality. For legacy playback needs it's rarely noticeable, but keep your MOV as the master copy.
Why would anyone still need FLV in 2026?
Mostly old systems: legacy content management systems, digital signage software, kiosks, or Flash-based media players built before Flash was retired, that were never updated to accept newer formats.
Will the FLV keep the date and location from my MOV?
Usually not. FLV wasn't designed to carry the same metadata as MOV, so recording date, camera details, and GPS location are typically lost in the conversion.
Can I still play FLV files on a modern Mac or Windows PC?
Not natively, and most current media players and browsers have dropped support entirely. You'll generally need software built specifically to handle older formats, or the legacy system the FLV was made for in the first place.
Can I convert MOV to FLV without uploading the file?
Yes. Morphjet runs the conversion on your own computer, so the video stays put the whole time. That works even with your wifi turned off.
Morphjet converts MOV, FLV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.