How to open a .avi file
Quick, free ways to open AVI on any system.
A .avi file is a Audio Video Interleave. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads AVI yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .avi file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .avi. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Media Player or VLC.
- On Mac, use VLC or QuickTime (with codecs).
- On Linux, try VLC or mpv.
- Still stuck? Convert the .avi to MP4, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .avi files
Windows
- Media Player
- VLC
macOS
- VLC
- QuickTime (with codecs)
Linux
- VLC
- mpv
Web
- Not natively, convert first
!
Before you open it: Safe. AVI is a media container.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .avi file?
Almost always because no installed app understands AVI. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
Why won't my AVI play, or why is there no sound?
Almost always a missing codec. The AVI container is fine, but the video or audio codec inside (often DivX or Xvid) is not installed on your system. Open the file in VLC, which includes its own codecs, or convert it to MP4.
Should I convert AVI to MP4?
Usually yes. MP4 is smaller, plays on more devices and browsers, and keeps similar quality.