Video conversion
Convert AVI to MPEG
Updated Jul 2026
AVI is an older Windows video container that often holds large, lightly compressed video, while MPEG is the compressed format used for DVDs and broadcast. To convert AVI to MPEG, open the file in a converter and export it as MPEG. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
- Extension
- .mpeg
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Broadcast, DVD
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert AVI to MPEG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AVI to MPEG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AVI file you want to convert, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose MPEG as the output format.
- Convert. The MPEG file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
AVI vs MPEG: what actually changes
| AVI | MPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, often lightly compressed or nearly uncompressed | Smaller, MPEG's compression shrinks it further |
| Quality | Lossless or close to it, depending on how it was recorded | Lossy, some detail is discarded on export |
| Compatibility today | Plays fine on Windows, but many phones and modern apps skip it | Widely readable, though not the format most modern software defaults to |
| DVD and broadcast equipment | Not accepted | The standard format these expect |
| Editing support | Good, most editors handle it natively | Also fine, but re-editing an already compressed file loses a bit more each pass |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AVI to MPEG when you need to burn a DVD, feed footage into broadcast or older playback equipment, or shrink a large AVI down for storage or sharing.
Keep the AVI original if you plan to edit the video further, since its lighter compression gives you more detail to work with before you compress it down for final delivery.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old home movies and camcorder footage often sit around as AVI files, and running one through a web based converter means uploading that footage to a server you don't control. Converting on your own computer keeps the video exactly where it already is, on your machine, the whole time.
Questions
Does converting AVI to MPEG lose quality?
Yes, to some degree. MPEG uses lossy compression, so there's a real trade off, most noticeable if you push the file size down hard. For DVDs and standard playback, the loss is usually not something you'd notice.
Will the MPEG file be smaller than the AVI?
Usually, often by a lot. AVI frequently stores video with light or no compression, so files get large fast. MPEG's compression typically brings that size down substantially.
Why would I need MPEG instead of AVI?
MPEG is the format DVD players, broadcast equipment, and a lot of older media software expect. AVI runs fine on Windows, but plenty of devices built around MPEG or newer formats don't open it directly.
Does the audio track carry over correctly?
Yes, the audio converts along with the video and stays in sync. You don't need a separate step for it.
Can I convert AVI to MPEG without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts it directly on your computer, so the video never travels over the internet or touches another server.
Morphjet converts AVI, MPEG, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.