audio format

What is a .FLAC file?

FLAC is an open lossless audio format compressing sound with zero quality loss — about half the size of WAV.

Full name
Free Lossless Audio Codec
Developed by
Xiph.Org
Released
2001
Extension
.flac
MIME type
audio/flac
Transparency
No

How to open a FLAC file

FLAC plays in VLC, modern browsers and audiophile players.

What FLAC files are used for

Music & podcasts

Listening on any device or app.

Editing & mastering

Production-quality source audio.

Voice notes & clips

Lightweight recordings to share.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Lossless — keeps full qualityNo transparency support
Open / royalty-free

Need more than a conversion?

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Frequently asked questions

FLAC is an open lossless audio format compressing sound with zero quality loss — about half the size of WAV.

FLAC plays in VLC, modern browsers and audiophile players.

Yes — FLAC preserves full quality with no compression loss.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your FLAC file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

No — FLAC doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.