GIF to FLV converter
Convert GIF to FLV in seconds, free and unlimited. No upload, no sign-up, no watermark: your video never leaves your device.
Last updated
Quick answer: To convert GIF to FLV, add the GIF file to the iHateFiles GIF to FLV converter and press Convert. The conversion runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded, and it is free with no sign-up, watermark or size limit. A real video codec instead of 256 colours, usually around a tenth of the size and with far smoother motion.
Should you convert GIF to FLV?
Almost always worth it: the FLV is usually a tenth of the size of the GIF and plays more smoothly. Keep the GIF only where a video will not play, such as email.
From 256 colours to real video
A GIF stores every frame as a separate picture in 256 colours. FLV stores Sorenson Spark (FLV1) video with MP3 sound, which only records what changes between frames, so the file is usually a tenth of the size and plays more smoothly. There was never any sound in the GIF, so the FLV is silent.
GIF and FLV side by side
| GIF | FLV | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the file | a sequence of 256-colour frames and no sound at all | Sorenson Spark (FLV1) video with MP3 sound |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Carries sound | No | Yes |
| Plays on | everywhere an image plays: browsers, chat apps, email and documents | VLC and very little else since Flash was retired in 2020 |
| Here | Read and write | Read and write |
What usually goes wrong
About the GIF. Halving the width of a GIF cuts the file size by roughly three quarters. Dropping the frame rate helps almost as much. Trimming the length helps least.
About the FLV. If you have FLV files they are probably old downloads worth rescuing, and converting them to MP4 is the way to keep them watchable.
How to convert GIF to FLV
- Add your GIF file. It is read from your disk and stays there.
- Check the settings. The output format is already set to FLV.
- Press convert and the FLV file is saved back to your device.
Questions
How do I convert GIF to FLV?
Open this page, add your GIF file, and press convert. The file is decoded and re-encoded by your own browser and saved back to your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Is this GIF to FLV converter free?
Yes, completely. There is no account, no sign-in, no watermark and no daily limit, because there is no server doing the work. Your own device does it.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. There is no upload endpoint. The conversion runs inside this browser tab, so your file never leaves your device. You can open your browser's network panel and watch: nothing carrying your file is sent.
Is there a file size limit?
No fixed limit. Because the work happens on your machine there is no server quota. The only ceiling is your own device's memory, which for video means very large files may be slow.
Will converting to FLV lose quality?
FLV is a lossy format, so some detail is discarded. The quality control on this page decides how much. The default is set high enough that most people cannot see the difference.
Can I convert several GIF files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are converted one after another, then offered as a single ZIP.