Convert MP4 to AVI Online
Free, private MP4 to AVI converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
Drag & drop files here
images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more
No Server Uploads
FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
Built for Privacy
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. They never leave your device.
How to convert MP4 to AVI
Drop your MP4 file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your AVI file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert MP4 to AVI?
MP4 and AVI serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a MP4 file?
MPEG-4 Part 14: MP4 is the most widely used video format. Phone recordings, YouTube downloads, streaming services, social media, almost everything uses MP4. It supports video, audio, and subtitles in a single file.
Created by: Moving Picture Experts Group (ISO/IEC), standardized in 2001
Used for: Video streaming, social media, phone recordings, web video, TV shows and movies
Technical details: Container format supporting H.264/H.265 video, AAC audio, and subtitle tracks. Lossy compression provides good quality at manageable file sizes.
Compatibility: Plays on virtually every device, browser, and operating system without extra software.
What is a AVI file?
Audio Video Interleave: AVI is an older video format from Microsoft. It has been around since 1992 and you may encounter it on older recordings or legacy systems. Modern formats like MP4 have mostly replaced it.
Created by: Microsoft, first released in 1992
Used for: Legacy video files, older Windows applications, archival footage
Technical details: Container format supporting various codecs. Lacks native support for modern codecs like H.265. Files tend to be larger than equivalent MP4.
Compatibility: Plays on Windows natively. Most media players handle AVI, but web browsers generally don't.
MP4 vs AVI
| Feature | MP4 | AVI |
|---|---|---|
| Type | MPEG-4 Part 14 | Audio Video Interleave |
| Best for | Video streaming, social media, phone recordings, web video, TV shows and movies | Legacy video files, older Windows applications, archival footage |
| Compatibility | Plays on virtually every device, browser, and operating system without extra software. | Plays on Windows natively. Most media players handle AVI, but web browsers generally don't. |
| Pros | Universal compatibility, good compression, supports multiple streams | Simple format, wide player support, good for legacy compatibility |
| Cons | Lossy compression means some quality loss, editing requires re-encoding | Large file sizes, outdated codec support, no native browser playback |