Video conversion
Convert MP4 to AVI
Updated Jul 2026
MP4 is the video format almost everything plays today, while AVI is an older Windows format some legacy software, editing tools, or hardware players still expect. To convert MP4 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 to make the switch.
- Extension
- .mp4
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- The universal video format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
Convert MP4 to AVI on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MP4 to AVI
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MP4 file, or a whole folder of them, to convert several at once.
- Choose AVI as the output format.
- Convert. The AVI file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
MP4 vs AVI: what actually changes
| MP4 | AVI | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Yes, universal support on phones, browsers, and computers | No, mainly older Windows software and some hardware players |
| File size | Smaller, efficient compression | Larger, since AVI doesn't compress video as tightly |
| Quality | Good, with some compression loss baked in already | No further loss added by the AVI export itself |
| Streaming support | Yes, built for web playback | No, not designed for streaming over the internet |
| Editing support | Widely supported | Still expected by some older editing and broadcast tools |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MP4 to AVI when a piece of older software, a Windows program, or a hardware device specifically asks for AVI and won't accept MP4.
Keep the MP4 if you're sharing online, emailing someone, or playing it on a phone or in a browser, since MP4 is smaller and more widely supported than AVI.
Why not just use an online converter?
Online converters ask you to upload your video to their server, wait for it to process, and download it back, which means a copy of your footage sits on a machine you don't control. Converting MP4 to AVI on your own computer skips all of that. The file stays put, gets converted locally, and never travels over the internet.
Questions
Does converting MP4 to AVI lose quality?
The AVI export itself doesn't add extra compression loss. Any quality loss already happened when the video was first encoded as MP4, and that can't be undone by changing the container.
Why would I need AVI instead of MP4?
Mostly for compatibility with older Windows software, certain editing suites, or hardware players that were built before MP4 became the standard and still expect AVI.
Will an AVI file be bigger than the MP4 I started with?
Usually, yes. AVI doesn't compress video as efficiently as MP4, so the same footage typically takes up more space once converted.
Can I convert MP4 to AVI without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to leave your machine or pass through someone else's server.
Should I keep the original MP4 after converting?
It's a good idea. If you ever need to share the video online or play it on a phone, the original MP4 will work better than the AVI copy.
Morphjet converts MP4, AVI, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.