MP4 to AVI Converter

How to Convert MP4 to AVI Online

1. Upload Your MP4 Files: Drag and drop, or click "+ Add Files" to select one or more MP4 (.mp4, .m4v) videos from your device. Batch processing is supported — every file uses the settings you pick below.
2. Pick a Video Codec: Open Advanced Options and choose a codec that the target player understands. MPEG-4 ASP (DivX/Xvid) is the safest bet for DVD players and Windows XP/Vista era software. MJPEG suits frame-accurate editing and machine-vision pipelines. Pick H.264-in-AVI only if your editor specifically lists it as supported — many AVI-locked tools cannot decode H.264.
3. Set Quality, Bitrate, or Resolution (Optional): Use the Quality Preset dropdown (Very High through Lowest), set Constant Bitrate / Variable Bitrate, dial in Constant Quality (CRF/qscale), or cap output with Specific file size. Resize via Preset Resolutions (2160P, 1440P, 1080P, 720P, 480P, 360P, 240P, 144P), Resolution Percentage, or custom Width × Height. Trim with the Time Range control if you only need a clip.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert. Files are processed on our servers and held in your session — no sign-up, no watermark, no email harvesting.

Why Convert MP4 to AVI?

MP4 is the modern default for video, but AVI — Microsoft's Audio Video Interleave container, released November 10, 1992 as part of Video for Windows — is still the only format some workflows accept. AVI is a RIFF-based wrapper that can hold MPEG-4 ASP (DivX/Xvid), MJPEG, uncompressed YUV, and other codecs. Modern apps prefer MP4 because AVI cannot reliably store B-frames, lacks native subtitle/chapter support, and adds roughly 5 MB of index overhead per hour of SD video. Convert to AVI when the target system can't open MP4:

• Legacy Windows editors — Early Windows Movie Maker (XP/Vista/7 era), VirtualDub, and Windows Live Movie Maker accept .avi, .wmv, .mpg, and .mpeg, but not .mp4 from cameras with H.264. Converting first is the standard fix documented across video-editing forums.
• DivX-certified DVD players and car head units — Hardware that pre-dates HEVC/H.264 hardware decode often advertises DivX/Xvid AVI support on the bezel but chokes on MP4.
• Industrial, scientific, and CCTV systems — Machine-vision software, microscopy capture cards, and older surveillance DVRs frequently fix AVI + MJPEG as the only ingest format for frame-by-frame analysis.
• Frame-accurate editing with MJPEG intra-frame — Because MJPEG stores every frame as a standalone JPEG, cuts are exact to the frame and scrubbing is instant on slow CPUs, with no GOP-boundary issues.
• Embedded devices and kiosks — Older digital signage players, in-flight entertainment racks, and museum exhibit hardware are often locked to AVI playback by their firmware.
• Archival re-wrap — If you received an MP4 from a camera but the receiving system's asset manager only indexes AVI, conversion is the only path in.

If your goal is the reverse — getting an old AVI into modern playback — use AVI to MP4 instead. To shrink an oversized source before conversion, run it through Compress MP4 first.

MP4 vs AVI — Container Comparison

AVI Codec Choice — Which One to Pick?

Expect a Bigger File

MP4 to AVI almost always grows the file. A 100 MB H.264 MP4 typically becomes 200-400 MB as Xvid AVI and 500 MB+ as MJPEG AVI, because Xvid/MJPEG cannot match H.264's compression and AVI itself adds index overhead. This is the cost of legacy compatibility — accept it, or pick a more efficient container like MKV via MP4 to MKV if your target supports it.

Lossless Remux Isn't Possible Here

Some container conversions can be done losslessly by copying the elementary streams (remuxing) without re-encoding. MP4 to AVI usually cannot, because the codecs differ: MP4 commonly carries H.264/HEVC + AAC, while AVI players expect Xvid/DivX/MJPEG + MP3/PCM. Re-encoding the video stream is required, which introduces one generation of loss. To minimize it, pick the highest Quality Preset (Very High) or a low CRF/qscale and accept the larger file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AVI codec should I pick for a DVD player from the 2000s?

Xvid is the most broadly compatible choice. DivX-certified players list "DivX" and "Xvid" interchangeably on the bezel because both implement MPEG-4 ASP. Avoid H.264-in-AVI and MJPEG for these players — most can't decode either. If the player ships a sticker with a specific profile (DivX Home Theater, DivX HD), match that profile's resolution and bitrate ceiling in our Bitrate / Resolution controls.

Why is my AVI two to four times larger than the source MP4?

AVI's typical codecs (Xvid, DivX, MJPEG) use older compression than H.264. Modern smartphones record H.264 or H.265, both of which use B-frames and CABAC entropy coding that AVI codecs lack. Add roughly 5 MB per hour of RIFF index overhead and you land at 2-5x file growth. There is no setting that fixes this — it is the trade-off for legacy compatibility.

Can I convert MP4 to AVI without re-encoding (lossless remux)?

Only if the MP4 already contains a codec AVI supports — almost no consumer MP4 does. Phone, GoPro, drone, and screen-recorder MP4s are H.264 or H.265, both of which need to be transcoded to Xvid/DivX/MJPEG for legacy player support. Pick the highest Quality Preset to minimize the one generation of loss.

Will Windows Movie Maker open the file after conversion?

The classic XP/Vista/7-era Movie Maker accepts .avi, .wmv, .mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .asf, and .wm — but not .mp4 from H.264 sources. Converting to Xvid AVI lets it import the clip. Note that Microsoft discontinued Windows Movie Maker in January 2017; on Windows 10/11, the built-in Photos / Clipchamp apps already accept MP4 directly and no conversion is needed.

What's the maximum file size I can upload?

Free-tier users can convert files up to several GB per upload. Files are processed on our servers and tied to your browser session; close the tab and they're cleared. For very large source MP4s, compressing first with Compress MP4 shortens upload and conversion time.

Does AVI support 4K / HDR / 10-bit color?

Technically yes, but it's not practical. AVI lacks the metadata fields modern HDR pipelines expect (color primaries, transfer characteristics, mastering display luminance), and Xvid/DivX MPEG-4 ASP is 8-bit 4:2:0 by design. For 4K HDR, stay on MP4 or move to MKV — converting to AVI will discard HDR metadata and clip the 10-bit signal to 8-bit.

Will subtitles, chapters, or multiple audio tracks survive the conversion?

No. AVI has only fragile, third-party support for subtitles and chapters, and most legacy players will ignore extra tracks. Embedded soft subtitles from an MP4 are dropped during conversion. If you need to keep subtitles, burn them in before converting, or stay on a container that supports them natively (MP4 or MKV).

Is the conversion private?

Yes. Files are uploaded over TLS, processed in your session, and removed automatically after a short retention window. No account is required, no watermark is added, and we do not resell uploads. If you need stricter handling — air-gapped editorial systems, classified material — run the conversion on your own machine with FFmpeg locally.

Should I just convert to AVI, or rethink the workflow?

If the target is anything from 2015 or later, MP4 or MKV is almost certainly a better fit and will save you hours debugging codec packs. Convert to AVI only when a specific named device or piece of software explicitly requires it. The list of "must use AVI" situations is shrinking — modern Windows, macOS, Linux, smart TVs, and current DVD players all accept MP4 natively.