SWF to FLV Converter

Flatten an interactive Flash SWF into a plain FLV video stream. Free, in your browser, with no signup and no watermark.

Select SWF file →

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We support most file types including: MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, MP3, WAV, PNG, JPEG, GIF, MKV, PDF, FLAC, TIFF!

EchoWave is used by creators, marketers, educators, and businesses to convert and edit media online.

Updated June 2026

SWF and FLV both came from the Flash era, but they are not the same thing: SWF is an interactive animation built with ActionScript, while FLV is a plain video stream meant for playback. Converting SWF to FLV flattens the animation into a simple video that older Flash-era players and authoring tools still accept. EchoWave does it free in your browser, with no signup and no watermark.

Free, no sign-upNo account, no trial

Runs in your browserNothing to install

Works on every devicePhone, tablet, laptop

No watermarkClean output, every time

How it works

How to convert SWF to FLV

1
Upload your SWF
Drag your SWF onto the converter or pick it from your device. Nothing to install.
2
Choose FLV and convert
Select FLV as the output and start. Free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
3
Download your FLV
Save the finished FLV, or open it in the editor to trim, crop, or resize it first.

Try it

Estimate your FLV

Pick a video bitrate and a length to see the FLV file size before you convert.

Video bitrate

Length5 min

1 min30 min

Estimated FLV size183MBSharp 1080p

An estimate. Real size varies with resolution, frame rate, and how much the picture moves.

The formats

SWF vs FLV

SWF

Shockwave Flash

Adobe Flash animation, now retired

Type: Flash animation
Holds: Vector animation and ActionScript
Typical size: Small for vector artwork
Plays on: Nothing by default, Flash was retired in 2020

Best for:Old Flash animations and games

FLV

Flash Video

Legacy Flash video from the pre-HTML5 web

Type: Flash video container
Holds: H.263, VP6, or H.264 video with MP3 or AAC audio
Typical size: Small, made for streaming
Plays on: VLC, since browsers dropped Flash in 2020

Best for:Recovering old Flash web video

Will it lose quality?

When the codecs already match FLV, the converter can change the container without re-encoding, so the picture stays identical.
When the video has to be re-encoded for FLV, a high bitrate keeps it visually close to the SWF.
Converting cannot add detail the SWF never had. The output is at best as good as the source.

Use cases

What people use it for

Play anywhereMake a clip your device supports

Video editorsGet footage your software accepts

Web videoUse a format browsers play

CourseworkHand in a standard video file

SharingSend a clip people can open

Troubleshooting

If something looks off

The FLV will not play

Some players are picky about codecs. Try it in VLC, which opens almost anything, or convert again and let the converter re-encode the video.

The file got larger

A format change can shift the size, and re-encoding at a high bitrate adds overhead. Lower the bitrate or trim the clip for a smaller file.

Audio and video drift out of sync

Re-download the source and convert again. If a long recording drifts, splitting it into shorter pieces usually fixes the sync.

FAQ

SWF to FLV questions

What is the difference between SWF and FLV?

SWF is a Flash animation that can include vector graphics, scripts, and interactivity through ActionScript. FLV is a video container, a plain stream of frames and audio with no scripting. Converting from one to the other turns interactive Flash content into a linear video that just plays.

How do I convert SWF to FLV?

Upload your SWF file, choose FLV as the output, and start. EchoWave plays the Flash timeline and records it as an FLV stream, then you download it or open it in the editor for changes.

Is the SWF to FLV converter free?

Yes. No signup, no account to create, no trial, and no watermark on the file. Upload your SWF, convert it, and download the FLV from your browser.

Why would I still want an FLV file?

FLV is itself a legacy format, but some older media players, archives, and authoring or streaming tools from the Flash era still expect it. If a specific legacy workflow asks for FLV, this conversion gives it a clean video stream to work with.

Do the interactive parts of the SWF carry over into the FLV?

No. FLV is a linear video, so buttons, menus, and ActionScript logic become a flat recording of what plays on screen. A self-running animation converts well, but a Flash game only captures the run it records.

Will converting SWF to FLV reduce quality?

SWF is usually vector artwork, so EchoWave renders it to a raster FLV at a set size. A higher video bitrate keeps the lines sharp and motion smooth. The output can look close to the source, but it cannot add detail the original lacked.

Should I use FLV or a modern format?

For anything you plan to share or upload, FLV is a poor choice because browsers no longer play it. Convert to MP4 for the widest support or WebM for the web. Pick FLV only when a legacy tool specifically requires it.

Does it work on Mac, Windows, and Linux?

Yes. The converter runs in any modern browser on macOS, Windows, Chromebook, and Linux, and from a phone as well. There is nothing to install.

Does the FLV keep the audio from the SWF?

If your SWF has a sound stream, it is carried into the FLV. Many Flash files have no audio, so the FLV may play silent, and you can add a soundtrack in the editor.

Is it safe to convert SWF to FLV here?

There is no account to create and nothing to install. See our security page for how EchoWave handles your files.