Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides

How to convert MP4 files to AVI in Windows and Mac OS X

By

Freemake Video Converter for Windows offers multiple options for converting your audio and video files to other formats. Using this program, we were able to successfully convert MP4 files to AVI without breaking a sweat.

Meanwhile, if you’re using a Mac, your best bet for this task is Any Video Converter, which is the best free media conversion program that’s available for Apple users. With this guide, we’ll show you how to convert your MP4 files to AVI, whether you’re using a Windows PC or a Mac-based computer.

Recommended Videos

Click here to jump to steps for converting MP4 to AVI on a Mac

Related

How to convert MP4 to AVI in Windows

With Freemake Video Converter, changing your media files from one type to another takes just a few clicks of the mouse. Freemake offers free downloads of its video converter through this website, and it’s compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8/8.1.

Step 1 – Download Freemake Video Converter

Once you open the page we linked you to above, click the green download button to the left of Freemake Video Converter at the top. When the download is complete, double-click the installer to begin setting up Freemake, then follow the on-screen instructions. We recommend that you un-check the option to install Conduit Search Protect. Also, choose Custom install, and de-select the bloatware that Freemake Video Converter attempts to load onto your system.

Freemake Video Converter Setup
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At 78.3MB, Freemake is a pretty small program, and takes just a few moments to install. Click Finish when install is complete, and Freemake Video Converter should launch automatically.

Step 2 – Converting an MP4 file to AVI

Click the +Video button in the upper left corner of Freemake, and find the MP4 file that you want to convert. Once you do, double click on it to add it to the work list.

Add Video to Freemake
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3 – Click the “to AVI” button on the bottom-left part of Freemake. From here, Freemake offers multiple output options to choose from, including screen resolution, which codecs to use, and more.

Once you’re done customizing the options, choose where Freemake should save the converted file, and click Convert to kick off the process.

Convert AVI Freemake
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4 – Lastly, click Okay in the Success screen to finish the job. Your newly minted AVI file should be located in the destination folder that you specified. To play it, double-click on it like you would with any other video.

Next page: How to convert MP4 to AVI using a Mac

How to convert MP4 to AVI in Mac OS X

Step 1 – Download and install Any Video Converter

Open the link above, and click the button labeled “Download Intel” to start pulling Any Video Converter to your Mac. Once prompted, drag Any Video Converter into your Applications folder.

Download
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2 – Open Any Video Converter from your Applications folder. Click Open when your computer asks whether you trust the downloaded application.

Any Video Converter Open Dialogue Box
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3 – Convert an MP4 file to AVI

Click the Add File(s) button in the lower left corner of the screen and locate the MP4 file that you wish to convert.

Add file to Any Video Converter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Open the drop-down menu on the right side of the screen in the “Profile” window and click on the film reel logo at the bottom. Then, select “Customized AVI Video” to set the conversion type to AVI format. Click “Convert Now” to begin the process. After a few moments, Any Video Converter should be spitting out a new AVI for you.

Any Video Converter Format Select
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4 – Finding and playing your new AVI

If you want immediate access to the new file, click the “History” tab on the left side of the screen to view the freshly converted video. You can watch the clip from the application itself. Alternatively, you can click on the magnifying glass on the right side of the screen to open the folder containing the finished product.

History of files in Any Video Converter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Did this walk-through teach you how to convert your MP4 files to AVI? If you’re having trouble, let us know in the comments section below.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Brandon Widder
Brandon Widder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brandon Widder is a multimedia journalist and a staff writer for Digital Trends where he covers technology news, how-to…
The new iPad Pro would be perfect, if only it were a Mac
A person gaming on the M4 iPad Pro and playing Diablo Immortal.

It’s no secret that I’ve been cheering on Apple’s gaming advances over the last year or so. Long-suffering Mac gamers have gone from being the forgotten also-rans of Apple’s ecosystem to feeling on top of the world, all in a very short period of time. But there’s one vital piece missing from the puzzle, and Apple’s new M4 iPad Pros have made it incredibly obvious.

I’ll admit, Mac gamers have been treated well in recent times. Not only have we had phenomenal hardware advancements in the form of the M3 Max chip -- which is a genuine gaming chip so cool and quiet that you’d be fooled into thinking it’s not -- but there’s also been a slate of top-tier games arriving on Apple’s platform, including my beloved Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a good time to be a Mac gamer.

Read more
The incredible 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 gaming monitor is $500 off
Front view of Samsung's new QLED Odyssey gaming monitor sitting on desk.

A powerful gaming PC should be paired with an excellent display, so if you're willing to go all out on monitor deals, you should set your sights on the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor. From its original price of $1,300, it's down to a more reasonable $800 following a $500 discount from Samsung. It's still not what you'd call cheap, but it's the screen that you want for an unparalleled PC gaming experience. However, it's highly recommended that you complete the purchase now because tomorrow may already be too late if you want the savings.

Why you should buy the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor
The Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor is one of the best gaming monitors that you can buy right now, with a 49-inch screen that features dual QHD resolution and a 1000R curvature for a completely immersive gaming experience. The monitor also offers a 240Hz refresh rate that keeps on-screen movements extra smooth, a 1ms response time that minimizes blur for precise gaming, and support for AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro that eliminates screen tearing and stuttering.

Read more
This 13-inch MacBook Air deal cuts the price by $150
The screen of the MacBook Air M2.

For those who are on the hunt for MacBook deals, you may want to check out Best Buy's bargain for the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air M2. The model with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM is down to $849, following a $150 discount on its original price of $999. We don't think this offer will last long though, so if you want to take advantage of it, there should be no hesitation on your end -- add it to your cart and proceed with the checkout process as soon as you can.

Why you should buy the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air M2
The 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air M2 isn't the latest model of the laptop, but it's still featured in our list of the best MacBooks as the MacBook for everyone. That's because with its reduced price -- which is even lower with Best Buy's discount -- the machine is a relatively budget-friendly option for those who are planning to switch to a MacBook or to upgrade from an older model to enjoy Apple's own silicon. The Apple M2 processor, combined with an eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU, and 8GB of RAM, provides incredible performance that will be able to handle even the most demanding tasks for work or school.

Read more