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MP4 to AVI Converter

Turn MP4 files into AVI in a couple of clicks. The default video container of the internet. Legacy Microsoft container. Widely readable, inefficient. The output is re-encoded, so quality depends on the settings you choose.

On your deviceNever uploadedGone when you close the tabHow this works

Drop your files here

MP4 files (.mp4, .m4v) · up to 512 MB each

or paste files from your clipboard

Ready when you are

Drop a MP4 file above and FileTools360 will turn it into AVI — right here on your device, without uploading anything.

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How to use it

  1. 1

    Add your MP4 files

    Drag them onto the upload area, choose them from your device, or paste them from your clipboard. You can queue several at once.

  2. 2

    Adjust the settings if you want to

    The defaults suit most people. Open Advanced to control codec, resolution and bitrate, the audio track and start and end times.

  3. 3

    Convert and download

    Press Convert. Everything happens on your own device — nothing is uploaded. Download files one by one, or grab them all as a ZIP.

MP4 and AVI explained

MP4 is a container, not a codec. It usually holds H.264 video and AAC audio, and that specific combination is the closest thing the internet has to a universal video format.

AVI is a Microsoft container from 1992. It predates modern video compression and lacks features taken for granted today, such as proper support for variable frame rates and modern codec metadata.

Where MP4 files come from
Phone cameras, screen recorders, and every video streaming platform.
Where AVI is used
Old camcorders, legacy Windows software and archived downloads.

MP4 vs AVI

The two formats solve different problems, which is why converting between them involves trade-offs rather than a straight upgrade.

MP4 compared with AVI
PropertySourceTarget
CompressionContainer (depends on codec)Container (depends on codec)
AnimationYesYes
Introduced20011992
Browser supportPlays on effectively every device.Wide but dated. Not supported in browsers.
MP4 is stronger at
Plays on effectively every device and browser without extra software. Supported by every editor, platform and social network. Efficient compression with H.264 or H.265.
AVI is stronger at
Readable by very old software. Simple, well understood structure.

Why convert MP4 to AVI?

People make this switch when they run into the limits of MP4: you need many embedded subtitle and audio tracks, where MKV is better suited. AVI is the better fit when a legacy system specifically requires it.

MP4 limitations that prompt the switch
H.264 carries patent licensing obligations for commercial distribution at scale. Less flexible than MKV for multiple audio tracks and subtitles.
What you give up
Inefficient — much larger than MP4 for the same quality. No browser support.

Does converting MP4 to AVI reduce quality?

Both formats store the content without discarding data, so this conversion preserves it exactly. The file size may change because the two formats compress differently, but the content itself is unaffected.

“MP4” tells you nothing about quality. An MP4 can hold anything from a pristine 4K master to a heavily compressed clip.

About these formats

Source

MPEG-4 Part 14

The default video container of the internet.

Extensions
.mp4, .m4v
MIME type
video/mp4
Best for
Sharing anywhere · Streaming · Social media
Compatibility
Plays on effectively every device.

Target

Audio Video Interleave

Legacy Microsoft container. Widely readable, inefficient.

Extensions
.avi
MIME type
video/x-msvideo
Best for
Older Windows software · Legacy hardware
Compatibility
Wide but dated. Not supported in browsers.

Good to know

MP4 to AVI Converter — questions

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FileTools360 by the numbers

521 converters and tools65 file formatsnothing ever uploaded.