What happens when you convert AVI to XVID
- If the video inside the AVI is already MPEG-4 Part 2, the tool first copies the streams straight into the XVID. That takes seconds and loses nothing.
- If a copy is not possible, it re-encodes to MPEG-4 Part 2 video labelled Xvid, with MP3 audio, in an AVI container, which is slow in a browser: expect several times the video's length for HD footage, less at lower resolutions.
- The video is labelled with the XVID code that Xvid-compatible DVD players and TVs look for. Older players only play up to 720 by 576, so choose 480p for them.
How to convert AVI to XVID online
- Press "Choose AVI files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- Adjust the settings if you need to: resolution and quality control the size of the result. The defaults suit most people.
- Press "Convert to XVID". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each XVID with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert AVI to XVID?
AVI files usually come from older camcorders, digital cameras and legacy video libraries. People convert them to XVID because Xvid is what many older DVD players, TVs and media boxes play from a disc or USB stick, often only as Xvid in AVI.
In short, AVI is good at what it was made for, and XVID is the more practical choice when the file has to play, upload or edit somewhere else. AVI does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and Windows players, while XVID does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and in DVD players with DivX or Xvid support.
How to convert AVI to XVID on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your AVI files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each XVID is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert AVI to XVID: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the AVI files from Finder onto the drop zone and the XVID files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose AVI files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted XVID appears in Files, in the Downloads folder; to put it in your photo library, open it there, tap Share and choose Save Video.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose AVI files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The XVID is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it. Keep the screen on while a long video converts, because Android may pause a tab in the background.
Best settings for AVI to XVID
XVID is written as MPEG-4 Part 2 video labelled Xvid, with MP3 audio, in an AVI container. The Resolution setting is the one to reach for: 1080p keeps full HD detail, 720p is plenty for phones and laptops and roughly halves the size, and 480p suits email and old devices. Leave Resolution on Keep original and Quality on Standard, and an AVI whose video is already MPEG-4 Part 2 is copied into the XVID rather than re-encoded, which is fast and loses nothing.
The quality levels map to the H.264 CRF scale where the target uses H.264, and to fixed high-quality settings for older codecs such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2, WMV and Theora. Re-encoding always costs a little detail, so convert from the best copy of the AVI you have.
AVI vs XVID: the differences
| AVI | XVID | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Audio Video Interleave | Xvid video |
| Type | video | video |
| Created by | Microsoft | the Xvid project |
| First released | 1992 | 2001 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid, DivX), MJPEG or uncompressed video with MP3 or PCM audio | MPEG-4 Part 2 video encoded with Xvid, usually with MP3 or AC3 audio in an AVI file |
| In a browser | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and Windows players | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and in DVD players with DivX or Xvid support |
| Common uses | older camcorders, digital cameras and legacy video libraries | films and TV episodes shared in the 2000s, and DVD players that play Xvid discs |
| MIME type | video/x-msvideo | video/x-msvideo |
About AVI and XVID files
What is an AVI file?
AVI dates from Windows 3.1 and predates the codecs most people use today. It is still readable by almost every desktop editor, which is why some older software asks for it.
What is an XVID file?
Xvid is an open-source MPEG-4 Part 2 codec, the free rival of DivX, and its name is DivX spelled backwards. Most Xvid videos are AVI files; a file with the rare .xvid extension holds the same kind of video and converts the same way.
AVI to XVID not working? Common problems
- The conversion is slow. Audio and container changes take seconds, but re-encoding video runs on your own processor. Lower the resolution to 720p, close other tabs, and keep the device plugged in.
- The tab stops or reloads on a very large file. Browsers limit how much memory one tab can use, around 2 GB and less on phones. Split long recordings or convert them on a computer.
- The XVID will not play on an old device. Try the other formats offered for AVI, or choose 720p, which older players handle more reliably.
Convert AVI to XVID with ffmpeg
This converter runs ffmpeg inside your browser. If you would rather use the ffmpeg command line on your own computer, this command produces an equivalent XVID with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v mpeg4 -q:v 4 -vtag XVID -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k -f avi output.xvidReplace input.avi with the name of your file. For a whole folder of AVI files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
AVI to XVID converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting AVI to XVID?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding compounds the loss slightly. Keep the default quality or higher and the difference is rarely noticeable.
Why is the XVID a different size from the AVI?
If the video inside the AVI is already MPEG-4 Part 2, it is copied and the XVID comes out about the same size. Otherwise, compared with video made with a modern codec such as H.264, the XVID is usually two to four times larger, because MPEG-4 Part 2 needs more data for the same picture. Choose 720p or 480p for a smaller file.
Are my AVI files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several AVI files to XVID at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open an XVID file?
XVID does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and in DVD players with DivX or Xvid support. XVID is common for films and TV episodes shared in the 2000s, and DVD players that play Xvid discs.
Is this AVI to XVID converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert AVI to XVID on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Long HD videos convert more slowly on a phone than on a computer.