FLV (Flash Video) files use Sorenson Spark, VP6, or H.264 video with MP3 or AAC audio — a format that became unplayable in browsers after Adobe discontinued Flash Player in December 2020. Android devices natively support MP4 containers with H.264 video and AAC audio, which is the standard output for Android Video conversion. This transformation re-encodes FLV content into a format optimized for Android's hardware video decoders, ensuring smooth playback across Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and all Android devices.

Android has never natively supported FLV playback. While apps like VLC for Android can decode FLV, the experience is suboptimal — no hardware acceleration, higher battery drain, and no integration with the native Gallery app. Converting to Android-optimized MP4 enables hardware-decoded playback, reduces battery consumption, and makes videos appear properly in the Gallery, Google Photos, and share sheets.

FFmpeg transcodes FLV's video stream to H.264 (Baseline or Main profile depending on target device generation) with AAC-LC audio. The output is an MP4 container with the moov atom placed at the beginning (faststart) for instant playback. Default settings target Android Compatibility: 720p resolution, 30 fps, H.264 Level 3.1, AAC-LC at 128 kbps stereo. Older devices may need Baseline profile and Level 3.0.

Resolution: 1920x1080

Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps

H.264 recommended for fast processing

Resolution: 1080x1080

Bitrate: 3.5 Mbps

Square or 9:16 for Reels

Resolution: 1080x1920

Bitrate: 4 Mbps

9:16 vertical, under 60s ideal

Resolution: 1280x720

Bitrate: 5 Mbps

Under 140s, 512MB max

Resolution: 960x540

Bitrate: 2 Mbps

16MB limit for standard, 64MB for document

Resolution: 1280x720

Bitrate: 4 Mbps

8MB free, 50MB Nitro

For most modern Android phones, 1080p (1920x1080) is ideal. For older or budget devices, 720p (1280x720) ensures smooth hardware decoding. Tablets benefit from 1080p. The converter will not upscale — if the FLV source is 480p, the output stays at 480p.

Yes. The output is a standard MP4 file with H.264 video and AAC audio, which Android's MediaStore indexes automatically. It will appear in the Gallery, Google Photos, and any other media browser on the device.

Yes. H.264 Baseline and Main profiles are hardware-decoded by every Android device manufactured since 2010. This means smooth playback with minimal battery drain, unlike software-decoded FLV files.

Absolutely. WhatsApp accepts MP4 with H.264 video. The 16 MB limit for standard messages applies, or 64 MB when shared as a document. The converter can compress the output to fit these limits.

MP4 with H.264 and AAC is supported since Android 3.0 (Honeycomb, 2011). Virtually every Android device in use today can play the converted file natively without any third-party app.

H.265 (HEVC) offers 30-40% better compression but requires Android 5.0+ and a device with hardware HEVC decoding. For maximum compatibility, H.264 is safer. Use H.265 only if you know all target devices support it.

Device	FLV	Android Video
Windows PC	Partial	Partial
macOS	Partial	Partial
iPhone/iPad	Partial	Partial
Android	Partial	Partial
Linux	Partial	Partial
Web Browser	No	No

Feature	FLV	Android Video
Full Name	Flash Video	Android Compatible Video
Extension	.flv	.mp4
Best For	Small file size	Android optimized

Convert FLV to Android Video — Free Online Converter

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