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Convert AVI to M4V - Play Old Videos on Apple Devices

Transform legacy AVI files into Apple-compatible M4V format for seamless playback.

Step 1: Upload your files

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Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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AVI Files Won't Play on Your Apple Devices

You have a collection of AVI videos-maybe old home movies, downloaded content, or files from the DivX era-and they simply won't play on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. The native video apps show nothing or display codec errors.

The solution is straightforward: convert those AVI files to M4V, Apple's preferred video format. M4V uses the efficient H.264 codec that every Apple device supports natively, and the files integrate seamlessly with iTunes and the TV app.

How to Convert AVI to M4V

  1. Upload your AVI file - Drag and drop or click to select your video
  2. Confirm M4V output - The converter automatically applies optimal Apple-compatible settings
  3. Download your M4V video - Ready to play on any Apple device or add to iTunes

The entire process happens in your browser. In our testing, a typical 700MB AVI file converts in under two minutes, depending on your connection speed.

Why AVI Doesn't Work on Apple Devices

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) was developed by Microsoft in 1992-decades before the iPhone existed. It's a container format that typically holds video encoded with DivX or XviD codecs, which Apple devices don't support.

Here's what happens when you try to play AVI on Apple:

  • iPhone/iPad - The Files app shows the video but can't play it
  • Apple TV - Returns an unsupported format error
  • QuickTime - May play audio only, or nothing at all
  • iTunes/TV App - Won't import AVI files into your library

M4V solves these problems because Apple designed it specifically for their ecosystem. It uses H.264 video and AAC audio-codecs that every Apple product since 2007 supports natively.

Technical Differences: AVI vs M4V

Understanding what changes during conversion helps set expectations:

FeatureAVIM4V
DeveloperMicrosoft (1992)Apple (2006)
Common CodecsDivX, XviD, MPEG-4 ASPH.264 exclusively
AudioMP3, AC3, PCMAAC, Dolby Digital
SubtitlesExternal files onlyEmbedded support (3GPP-TT)
ChaptersNot supportedFull chapter markers
Apple SupportNoneNative on all devices

In our testing, M4V files are typically 20-30% smaller than the original AVI while maintaining equivalent visual quality, thanks to H.264's superior compression efficiency.

Common Use Cases

Preserving Old Home Videos

Many people digitized home videos to AVI format in the 2000s. Those files are perfectly fine, but they're locked away from modern Apple devices. Converting to M4V preserves them in a format that will work for decades to come.

Building an iTunes Library

iTunes and the TV app only accept specific formats. M4V is the native choice-your converted videos appear with proper thumbnails, can be organized into playlists, and sync to all your Apple devices automatically.

Apple TV Playback

Want to watch those old AVI files on your big screen via Apple TV? M4V is the answer. No third-party apps needed-just add to your library and stream.

Sharing with iPhone Users

Sending a video to someone with an iPhone? M4V guarantees they can open and play it without installing anything or converting on their end.

What About Quality?

Video conversion always involves re-encoding, which can theoretically reduce quality. In practice, the difference is usually invisible.

Most AVI files use older compression technology (MPEG-4 ASP via DivX/XviD). H.264, which M4V uses, is a generation newer and more efficient. In our testing, we've found that converting at reasonable bitrates produces M4V files that look as good as the original AVI-sometimes better due to improved deblocking and compression artifacts being smoothed out.

For archival purposes, we convert at high bitrates to ensure maximum quality preservation. The resulting files are fully compatible with iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.

Alternative Formats to Consider

M4V is ideal for Apple users, but depending on your needs, other formats might work better:

  • AVI to MP4 - MP4 is the universal standard. Works everywhere, including Apple devices. Choose MP4 if you also use Android or Windows.
  • AVI to MOV - QuickTime's native format. Good for editing in Final Cut Pro or importing into Apple workflows.
  • AVI to MKV - Best for archiving with multiple audio tracks or subtitles. Requires VLC or similar players.

If you're exclusively in the Apple ecosystem and want iTunes integration, stick with M4V. For maximum compatibility across all platforms, convert to MP4 instead.

Batch Conversion for Large Collections

Have dozens or hundreds of AVI files from the old days? You can convert multiple files at once. Upload your entire collection, and they'll all be processed and converted to M4V format.

This is particularly useful for people who have archived DVD rips, old downloads, or digitized home video collections. Get everything into Apple-compatible format in one session rather than converting files one at a time.

Works on Any Device

Our converter runs entirely in your browser:

  • Mac - Safari, Chrome, Firefox
  • Windows - Chrome, Firefox, Edge
  • iPhone/iPad - Safari, Chrome
  • Android - Chrome, Firefox
  • Linux/Chromebook - Any modern browser

No software to install, no account required. Your videos stay on your device throughout the conversion process.

Pro Tip

If you're converting a large collection of old AVI files for your Apple TV library, convert them all to M4V rather than MP4. M4V files are recognized by iTunes with better metadata handling and proper categorization in the TV app.

Common Mistake

Trying to force-play AVI files on Apple devices using third-party players. While VLC for iOS works, the experience is clunky. Converting to M4V gives you native playback with full integration into Photos, Files, and the TV app.

Best For

Users with legacy AVI collections who are fully invested in the Apple ecosystem-iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. M4V provides seamless integration with iTunes, iCloud, and AirPlay without any compatibility headaches.

Not Recommended

If you use both Apple and Android devices, or share videos with non-Apple users frequently, convert to MP4 instead. MP4 offers the same quality and codec support but with universal compatibility across all platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

M4V is a video container format developed by Apple in 2006. It uses H.264 video compression and AAC audio, and is the native format for iTunes Store content. M4V files play on all Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.

Quality loss is minimal and typically unnoticeable. We convert at high bitrates to preserve maximum quality. Since M4V uses H.264, which is more efficient than the older DivX/XviD codecs in most AVI files, the output often looks as good as the original.

Yes, M4V is iTunes' native video format. Simply drag your converted M4V file into iTunes or the TV app, and it will be added to your library with proper metadata, thumbnails, and the ability to sync to your other Apple devices.

M4V and MP4 are nearly identical technically-both use H.264 video and AAC audio. The main difference is that M4V is specifically optimized for Apple devices and can include Apple's FairPlay DRM for purchased content. For most users, they're interchangeable.

Yes, though support varies. VLC Media Player handles M4V on any platform. Windows Media Player may require codec packs. For maximum cross-platform compatibility, consider converting to MP4 instead, which works natively everywhere.

Conversion time depends on file size and your internet connection. In our testing, a typical 700MB AVI file converts in 1-2 minutes. Larger files or slower connections will take proportionally longer.

iPhones don't support the DivX and XviD codecs typically used in AVI files. Apple devices require H.264 or HEVC video codecs. Converting to M4V re-encodes the video using H.264, which iPhones support natively.

If your AVI has hardcoded (burned-in) subtitles, they'll appear in the M4V output. If you have separate subtitle files (.srt, .sub), you'll need to add them separately after conversion, as M4V supports embedded 3GPP-TT subtitles.

Yes, our AVI to M4V converter is completely free. There are no watermarks, no file size limits for reasonable use, and no account required. The conversion happens directly in your browser.

Most AVI files contain a single audio track, which will be converted to AAC for M4V. If your AVI has multiple audio tracks, the primary track will be preserved. For multi-track preservation, consider MKV format instead.

Yes, our converter works in Safari on iPhone. Upload your AVI file, convert it, and download the M4V directly to your device. You can then add it to your video library or share it via AirDrop.

AVI doesn't support chapter markers, so there are none to preserve. However, M4V does support chapters, and if you're creating content for iTunes, you can add chapter markers using video editing software after conversion.

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