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…
This 24-inch monitor is just $70 in Dell’s Black Friday sale
The Dell 24-inch monitor on a white background.

Dell has some fantastic Black Friday deals right now, and we’re not convinced you can get a cheaper deal than a Dell 24-inch monitor for just $70. Usually $120, you’re saving $50 off the regular price, which is huge for a typically very well priced monitor. While some people may wish to check out the Black Friday 4K monitor deals going on, most people will be more than happy with this model. Here’s what it has to offer and why many people who work from home will particularly benefit.

Why you should buy the Dell 24-inch monitor
Dell makes some of the best monitors around. This Dell 24-inch monitor is a simple but useful one. It has a top resolution of 1920 x 1080, with its VA panel offering a 75Hz refresh rate. It won’t be particularly well suited for gaming, but it’s perfect as a monitor for your laptop or as a secondary device with your existing desktop setup.

Read more
Windows 11 remains the driver of growth in PCs, not AI
The Surface Laptop shown in front of a Copilot+ sign.

There's been a lot of talk about AI PCs this year, but has it actually delivered on its promise? A new analysis from TrendForce says the significant boost in laptop sales in 2024 has more to do with Windows 11 updates than it does with fancy new AI features.

"The impact of AI-integrated notebooks on the overall market remains limited for now," the report states. "However, AI features are expected to naturally integrate into notebook specifications as brands gradually incorporate them, resulting in a steady rise in the penetration rates of AI notebooks."

Read more
A forgotten Apple patent reveals the original idea for the Vision Pro
A person wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset.

A forgotten Apple patent from 2008 suggests that the company has been working on the Vision Pro for a very, very long time. Spotted by Macworld's Dan Moren while he was browsing the Internet Archive, the old article only shows one diagram from the patent but it looks extremely similar to the display panel of the Vision Pro.

The device is also described as a wearable display with intelligent sensors that can "simulate the experience of being in a virtual environment." It even mentions that the sensors would be able to track head and eye movements. While the tech Apple wanted to put inside it at this point must have been quite different from the product we have now, it's surprising just how similar the shape and design of the headset are.

Read more