Video conversion
Convert MOV to AVI
Updated Jul 2026
MOV is the video format your iPhone or Mac records in, and AVI is an older format that many Windows editing programs and playback devices still expect. To convert MOV to AVI, open the file in a converter and export it as AVI. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere first.
- Extension
- .mov
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iPhone / Mac recordings
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
Convert MOV to AVI on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MOV to AVI
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MOV file or a whole folder of clips.
- Choose AVI as the output format.
- Convert. The AVI is written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
MOV vs AVI: what actually changes
| MOV | AVI | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller, already compressed | Much larger, since AVI stores the video without further compression |
| Quality | Good, but lossy at the time it was recorded | Preserves what MOV has, without adding a second round of compression loss |
| Opens everywhere | Best on Mac, iPhone, and iPad | Best on older Windows software and legacy editing tools |
| Editing software support | Widely supported by modern editors | Still required by some older or industrial editing suites and hardware players |
| Keeps date and location (metadata) | Yes | Only partially, AVI's container is simpler and can drop some of it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MOV to AVI when you need to open a video in older Windows editing software, a legacy device, or a workflow that specifically requires AVI.
Keep the MOV if you're just watching or sharing the clip, since MOV already plays fine on most modern devices and AVI will only make the file much bigger for no real benefit.
Why not just use an online converter?
Videos shot on an iPhone or Mac often carry personal moments, and sometimes the location where they were filmed. Uploading one to an online converter to get an AVI means that footage sits on a stranger's server, even if just for a few minutes. Converting on your own computer keeps the video, and where it was taken, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting MOV to AVI lose quality?
Not really. AVI here stores the video without recompressing it, so you're not losing anything on top of the compression already baked into the original MOV. The trade-off is a much larger file.
Why is the AVI file so much bigger than the MOV?
MOV is compressed to save space, which is normal for footage straight off an iPhone or Mac. AVI keeps the video uncompressed, so the same footage can end up several times larger.
Will the AVI keep the date and location from the original video?
Some of it. AVI's container format is simpler than MOV's, so certain metadata like precise location or camera details may not carry over. The date is usually preserved as a file property.
Why would I need AVI instead of just keeping MOV?
Some older Windows editing programs, industrial equipment, and legacy playback devices only accept AVI. If nothing you're using asks for it, there's no reason to convert.
Can I convert MOV to AVI without uploading the video anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the footage never has to travel over the internet.
Morphjet converts MOV, AVI, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.