Convert AVI to MP4
Old AVI videos in a format that plays on today’s devices.
Convert AVI videos to MP4 to watch them on a phone, a smart TV or a Mac, share them or upload them to the web. AVI is the format of many digital cameras from the 2000s and of DivX and Xvid files; MP4 in H.264 plays everywhere and usually takes up less space.
How to convert AVI to MP4
- Select your AVI video (up to 100 MB).
- Click “Convert to MP4”.
- Wait while we re-encode the video: it usually takes a few seconds.
- Download the MP4.
Why convert AVI to MP4
AVI dates from 1992. It was the standard in Windows for years, and many compact cameras recorded in AVI with Motion JPEG compression, while films circulated in AVI with DivX or Xvid (MPEG-4 Part 2). Today:
- Phones, Macs and TVs often won’t open AVI, or they open it without sound.
- Websites and messaging apps reject it or convert it badly.
- It takes up a lot: Motion JPEG compresses each frame separately, so a few minutes of camera video can weigh hundreds of megabytes.
What you get
- H.264 video, which plays on any device and is much more efficient than the codecs of AVI: the MP4 is usually smaller with the same visual quality.
- AAC sound, converted from the MP3 or PCM that AVI files usually carry.
- The same resolution and frame rate as the original, with even dimensions, as H.264 requires.
- No metadata: the MP4 doesn’t keep the camera model or the recording date.
Limitations
- The image of an AVI is almost never in H.264, so it is always re-encoded: very long videos have to be trimmed first (the message will tell you the maximum).
- One video at a time, up to 100 MB.
- Interlaced videos from old camcorders are converted as they are, without deinterlacing.
- If you only need a short moment as an animation, use AVI to GIF.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t my old camera’s AVI play on my phone?
Because those cameras usually recorded in Motion JPEG or other old codecs that phones don’t support. Converted to MP4 in H.264, the video plays on any phone, tablet or TV.
Will the MP4 be smaller than the AVI?
Usually much smaller, especially with videos from cameras in Motion JPEG: H.264 compresses far more efficiently. With DivX or Xvid files the difference is smaller, but it is still common to save space.
Do I lose quality converting AVI to MP4?
Re-encoding always loses a little, but with balanced quality the difference isn’t visible at normal sizes. The original AVI usually has more compression artefacts than anything the conversion adds.
Can I convert a DivX or Xvid film?
Yes, as long as it is no larger than 100 MB and not too long to re-encode. Full-length films usually exceed both limits, so this tool is best for clips and home videos.