AVI
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a RIFF-based container from the 1990s.
Common uses
- Archives
- Older cameras
- Some scientific captures
Strengths
- Simple
- Historically everywhere on Windows
Weaknesses
- Limited streaming
- Odd index quirks
- Modern browsers often cannot play it
Compatibility. Do not expect Chrome on a phone to play arbitrary AVI. Desktop players with many codecs fare better.
Size and quality. Often uncompressed or older codecs; files can be huge.
How to open it. VLC is the practical answer. The ConvertPass inspector will say if the browser cannot load metadata.
How to convert it. Transcode offline to MP4 or WebM for the web.
Security and privacy. Legacy containers had a long exploit history in players. Keep players updated. ConvertPass does not parse AVI structures itself.
Related tools
- Video file inspector
Read duration and resolution from a video without uploading it.
Related comparisons
Last reviewed 16 August 2026.