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Convert AVI to MP4 – Play Old Videos Anywhere

Convert AVI videos to MP4 for universal playback on any device.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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AVI Files Won't Play on Your Device?

AVI was the standard video format for decades, but modern devices often don't support it. Your phone, tablet, or smart TV may refuse to play those old recordings, home videos, or downloaded files.

Converting to MP4 solves this instantly. MP4 is the universal video format that plays on every device made in the last 15 years—phones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and every major streaming platform.

How to Convert AVI to MP4

  1. Upload your AVI file – Drag and drop or browse to select your video
  2. Confirm MP4 output – MP4 with H.264 encoding ensures maximum compatibility
  3. Download your file – Get your converted video ready for any device

Conversion happens in your browser. Your videos stay private and most files process quickly.

Why AVI Files Need Converting

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) was created by Microsoft in 1992. It served well for decades but has limitations:

  • Large file sizes – AVI uses older compression, creating unnecessarily large files
  • Codec confusion – AVI is a container that can hold many codecs, causing playback issues
  • No streaming support – AVI can't stream progressively like MP4
  • Limited device support – Modern phones and tablets often won't play AVI

MP4 with H.264 solves all these problems—smaller files, universal playback, streaming support.

What You Gain by Converting

Smaller File Sizes

H.264 compression in MP4 is dramatically more efficient than most AVI codecs. A 2GB AVI file might become a 500MB MP4 with visually identical quality.

Universal Playback

MP4 plays on every smartphone, tablet, smart TV, gaming console, and computer. No codec packs needed, no compatibility worries.

Streaming Ready

MP4 supports progressive download and streaming. Share videos online, upload to social media, or embed on websites without transcoding.

Preserved Quality

Our conversion uses high-quality H.264 encoding. Your old videos look as good as they did in AVI—often better on modern displays.

Common AVI Sources

Old Digital Cameras

Cameras from the 2000s often recorded in AVI format. Convert these home videos to MP4 for viewing on current devices and easier sharing.

Screen Recordings

Some screen capture software still defaults to AVI. Converting to MP4 makes recordings shareable and reduces storage requirements.

Downloaded Videos

Older video downloads, especially from the pre-YouTube era, are often AVI files. Convert for modern playback compatibility.

DVD Rips

Some DVD ripping tools create AVI files. MP4 is a more efficient format for storing your movie collection.

Batch Convert Multiple Videos

Have a collection of AVI files? Upload multiple videos and convert them all to MP4 in one batch. Perfect for digitizing old home video archives or updating a media library.

Works on Any Device

No software installation needed. Convert AVI to MP4 directly in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android

Pro Tip

When converting a large AVI archive, test one representative file first. Check the quality and file size reduction are acceptable before batch converting your entire collection.

Common Mistake

Keeping both AVI and MP4 versions after converting. Once you've verified the MP4 looks good, you can safely delete the larger AVI files to reclaim storage space.

Best For

Modernizing old video collections, making home videos playable on phones and tablets, reducing storage space for video archives, and preparing videos for web upload.

Not Recommended

Don't convert if you're doing professional video editing—work with original files in your editor. Convert to MP4 only for final delivery or archiving after editing is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most smartphones don't include AVI codec support by default. AVI can contain various codecs that require specific decoders. Converting to MP4 (H.264) ensures native playback on all phones.

With proper settings, quality loss is minimal and usually imperceptible. Modern H.264 encoding is more efficient than old AVI codecs—you often get smaller files with visually identical quality.

Typically 50-75% smaller. A 2GB AVI often converts to a 500MB-1GB MP4 with no visible quality difference. Savings depend on the source codec and content type.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a video container format created by Microsoft in 1992. It can hold video and audio encoded with various codecs. While widely used historically, it's being replaced by more efficient formats like MP4.

Yes. All modern smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles support MP4 playback. It's the universal video format.

Yes. Converting doesn't improve original resolution, but our high-quality encoding preserves everything in the source. Videos will look exactly as good as they did, just in a modern format.

Processing time depends on file size and length. A typical 1GB video converts in 1-3 minutes. Large files or slow connections may take longer.

For most purposes, yes. MP4 offers better compression (smaller files), universal device support, streaming capability, and consistent codec support. AVI is a legacy format with limited modern utility.

Yes. Our converter works in Safari and other browsers on Mac. No additional software needed—upload your AVI and download the MP4 directly.

Audio converts along with video. The MP4 will have AAC audio, which is universally supported. Audio quality is preserved during conversion.

AVI Conversions & Related Converters

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