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AVI MP4
File conversion

Convert AVI to MP4

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 21, 2026
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Is it possible to convert AVI to MP4?
Yes - AVI converts to MP4.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

Use the free converter on this page or download HandBrake for a one-click solution. The main caveat: because most AVI files use DivX or Xvid video, conversion requires a full re-encode to H.264 - a small quality loss is unavoidable, though rarely visible.

Also to MP4: AVCHD · USM · MXF

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert AVI to MP4?

AVI is a 1992 Microsoft container that most phones, browsers, and smart TVs cannot play natively. .MP4 with H.264 video is the universal standard today and is supported on virtually every device made in the last decade. Converting also shrinks the file considerably, since H.264 compresses far more efficiently than the DivX or Xvid codecs most AVI files contain.

How to convert AVI to MP4

HandBrake FREE

Open your AVI, choose the Fast 1080p30 preset, confirm the output format is MP4, and click Start Encode.

VLC media player FREE

Use Media → Convert / Save, pick an H.264 MP4 profile, and click Start.

Command line - FFmpeg CLI

Run ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4 to re-encode video to H.264 and audio to AAC.

Programs that convert AVI

HandBrake
MyVideoConverter
Miro Video Converter
Nero Multimedia Suite
Adobe Premiere Pro
Aimersoft DRM Media Converter for Windows
Any DVD Converter
Any Video Converter FREE

About these formats

.AVI Audio Video Interleave

An AVI file is a video container created by Microsoft in 1992. To open one, use VLC media player - it includes the DivX/Xvid codecs old AVIs need and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android…

Open .AVI details →
.MP4 MPEG-4 Part 14 Video File

An MP4 file is a video container (MPEG-4 Part 14, standardized 2003) that holds video, audio, subtitles, and chapters in one file. It plays on every phone, computer, browser, and smart TV…

Open .MP4 details →

Quality & what to watch

  • This conversion is a full re-encode: AVI stores DivX or Xvid video, which must be decoded and re-compressed to H.264 - streams cannot simply be copied.
  • File size typically drops by 50-75%; H.264 compresses the same content far more efficiently than DivX or Xvid.
  • Audio is also re-encoded from MP3 to AAC; at 128 kbit/s the difference is rarely audible.

Frequently asked questions

Will converting AVI to MP4 lose quality?
Yes, but the loss is small. Re-encoding from DivX/Xvid to H.264 adds a generation of compression; at HandBrake's default settings it is rarely visible on a screen.
Can I convert without re-encoding?
Only if the AVI already holds H.264 video and AAC audio - then FFmpeg can copy streams directly with ffmpeg -i input.avi -c copy output.mp4. Most AVI files use DivX or Xvid, which requires a full re-encode.
Why is the MP4 smaller than the AVI?
H.264 is far more efficient than the DivX or Xvid codecs most AVI files contain, so the same visual quality fits in a much smaller file.
Are subtitles carried over?
AVI does not support soft subtitle tracks, so there is usually nothing to transfer. If you have an external .srt file, HandBrake can burn it into the video or add it as a subtitle track in the MP4.