Video conversion
Convert WMV to FLV
Updated Jul 2026
WMV is a Windows Media Video file, native to Windows and awkward to open elsewhere. FLV is a legacy Flash Video format that some older players and embed systems still expect. To convert, open the WMV in a converter and export it as FLV. Doing this on your own computer means the file never leaves your machine.
- Extension
- .wmv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Windows video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .flv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy web video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WMV to FLV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WMV to FLV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WMV file, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose FLV as the output format.
- Convert. The FLV file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
WMV vs FLV: what actually changes
| WMV | FLV | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, mainly Windows Media Player and some Windows apps | No, needs a player or plugin that still supports Flash Video |
| File size | Moderate, depends on the original bitrate | Similar or smaller, built for streaming over slow connections |
| Quality | Good, lossy compression | Good, but re-compressed again on export, a small extra loss |
| Web and streaming use | Rarely used for web embedding | Built for it, though most sites moved away from Flash years ago |
| Editing software support | Wide support in Windows-based editors | Narrower, mostly older or specialized tools still take FLV directly |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WMV to FLV when you need to feed the video into an older system, archive, or streaming pipeline that specifically still expects Flash Video.
Keep the WMV if you're just going to play or edit it on a Windows PC, since FLV is an older format most modern players and editors have moved away from.
Why not just use an online converter?
Some people still need to convert WMV to FLV because an old website, kiosk, or archive system won't accept anything else. Uploading a home video or work recording to a random online converter to make that happen means it sits on someone else's server, at least briefly, before you get it back. Converting on your own computer skips that step, the WMV goes in and the FLV comes out locally, without ever touching the internet.
Questions
Does converting WMV to FLV lose quality?
A little. Both are lossy formats, and FLV recompresses the video again on export, so there's a small additional loss on top of whatever WMV already introduced. It's usually not noticeable unless you zoom in on fine detail.
Why would I still need FLV in 2026?
FLV was built for the Flash-based web video of the 2000s and 2010s, and most browsers dropped support for Flash years ago. It still shows up in older content management systems, digital signage, and some legacy streaming pipelines that were never updated.
Will the FLV keep my video's metadata?
Basic details like duration and resolution carry over, but FLV doesn't reliably store the richer metadata, like chapters or subtitles, that some WMV files may include, so double check anything beyond the video itself.
Can I convert WMV to FLV without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so the video never leaves your computer, and you can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts WMV, FLV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.