How to Add FLV MIME Types Using .htaccess or cPanel

Some web applications, video players, and media scripts require the correct MIME type for .flv (Flash Video) files to ensure they load and stream correctly. If your server is not serving FLV files with the correct MIME type, you may experience issues such as videos not playing or downloads triggering instead of streaming.

This guide shows you two simple ways to enable the FLV MIME type on a Linux-based hosting account: by using an .htaccess file or configuring MIME Types directly in cPanel.

1. Add the FLV MIME Type Using .htaccess

This method works on Linux servers with Apache and is ideal when you need quick control at the website level.

1. Open your website’s .htaccess file (located in public_html). If it doesn't exist, create one.
2. Add the following MIME rule:

AddType video/x-flv .flv

Save the file and refresh your website. Your server will now recognize and correctly serve .flv video files.

2. Add the FLV MIME Type via cPanel

You can also configure MIME types through the cPanel interface.

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Click on the MIME Types icon (under the Advanced section).
3. In the Add a MIME Type form:

• MIME Type: video/x-flv
• Extension(s): .flv

Click Add, and cPanel will apply the setting to your site automatically.

Why MIME Types Matter

MIME types tell the browser how to handle a specific file format. Without the correct type:

• Videos may not open in embedded players.
• The browser may force a download instead of streaming.
• Media scripts may fail to load content.

This is especially important when running older applications that still rely on FLV (Flash Video) formats.

Important Notes

• This method works only on Linux hosting (Apache servers).
• FLV is a legacy format — modern browsers no longer support Adobe Flash.
• Whenever possible, convert FLV files to modern formats such as MP4 (H.264).