What happens when you convert WebM to AVI
- The video is re-encoded to MPEG-4 Part 2 video with MP3 audio.
- Re-encoding in a browser is slow: expect several times the video's length for HD footage on a laptop, and longer on a phone. Short and low-resolution clips finish much sooner.
How to convert WebM to AVI online
- Press "Choose WebM 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 AVI". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each AVI with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert WebM to AVI?
WebM files usually come from web video, screen recorders and browser-based recordings. People convert them to AVI because AVI is still the format some older editors, set-top players and industrial software insist on.
In short, WebM is good at what it was made for, and AVI is the more practical choice when the file has to play, upload or edit somewhere else. WebM plays in Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and in Safari since version 14.1, while AVI does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and Windows players.
How to convert WebM to AVI on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your WebM files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each AVI is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert WebM to AVI: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the WebM files from Finder onto the drop zone and the AVI files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose WebM files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted AVI 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 WebM files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The AVI 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 WebM to AVI
AVI is written as MPEG-4 Part 2 video with MP3 audio. 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.
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 WebM you have.
WebM vs AVI: the differences
| WebM | AVI | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | WebM video | Audio Video Interleave |
| Type | video | video |
| Created by | Microsoft | |
| First released | 2010 | 1992 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | VP8, VP9 or AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio | MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid, DivX), MJPEG or uncompressed video with MP3 or PCM audio |
| In a browser | plays in Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and in Safari since version 14.1 | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and Windows players |
| Common uses | web video, screen recorders and browser-based recordings | older camcorders, digital cameras and legacy video libraries |
| MIME type | video/webm | video/x-msvideo |
About WebM and AVI files
What is a WebM file?
WebM is a royalty-free subset of Matroska made for the web. Browser screen recorders and many online meeting tools save to WebM, which iMovie and many editors cannot import.
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.
WebM to AVI 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 AVI will not play on an old device. Try the other formats offered for WebM, or choose 720p, which older players handle more reliably.
Convert WebM to AVI 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 AVI with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.webm -c:v mpeg4 -q:v 4 -vtag xvid -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k output.aviReplace input.webm with the name of your file. For a whole folder of WebM files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
WebM to AVI converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting WebM to AVI?
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 AVI a different size from the WebM?
It depends on the settings. At the defaults, the AVI usually comes out close in size to the WebM; lower the quality for a smaller file.
Are my WebM 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 WebM files to AVI 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 AVI file?
AVI does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and Windows players. AVI is common for older camcorders, digital cameras and legacy video libraries.
Is this WebM to AVI 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 WebM to AVI 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.