Before the declaration of independence, Kosovo had come under the administration of the United Nations and used the UN flag for official purposes. The Serb and Albanian populations had used their own national flags since the 1945–1992 Socialist Yugoslavia period.

An outline map of Kosovo containing the emblem of UN administered Kosovo, the Olympic rings, a pictogram of an athlete and the name KOSOVË. 1999–2009 Kosovo Protection Corps

Following World War II, Kosovo was incorporated into socialist Yugoslavia as an autonomous region (later autonomous province) of the republic of Serbia. The federal government authorized flags only for the several Yugoslav constituent republics. However, ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo were eventually allowed to fly the Albanian flag.

In the previous years also before Kosovo’s independence, Kosovo lacked a flag of its own and SFR Yugoslavia, and SR Serbia flags were flown. When Kosovo was under the United Nations, between 1999 and 2008, they used a flag of the UN.

In 1918, Kosovo became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, but Kosovo Muslims who sought independence and accession to Albania faced persecution from Serbs. Serbia's influence was manifested through the presence of the Serbian flag in Kosovo.