FixFile
File Format

AVI (.avi)

Microsoft's Audio Video Interleave container from 1992. A legacy video format still widely used for storing uncompressed and DivX/Xvid-encoded video files.

Extension
.avi
MIME Type
video/x-msvideo

Last updated

Overview

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a video container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of Windows 3.1. It stores audio and video data in alternating chunks within a RIFF wrapper, a structure that was designed to allow simultaneous audio/video playback on the hardware of the early 1990s.

Although AVI is technically a container rather than a codec, it became synonymous with DivX and Xvid-encoded video during the early 2000s — these were the formats used to distribute compressed movie rips before BitTorrent and streaming. AVI files are now considered a legacy format; newer containers like MKV and MP4 offer better compression, streaming, and metadata support.

Common Uses

  • Legacy video archives — DivX and Xvid movie rips from the 2000s are almost universally AVI
  • Windows video capture — older screen recorders and webcam software defaulted to AVI
  • Industrial and security footage — some CCTV systems still record in proprietary AVI-based formats
  • Compatibility — AVI files play on nearly all Windows software without additional codecs when using common encodings

Advantages

  • Near-universal Windows compatibility — every version of Windows since 3.1 includes AVI support
  • Simple structure — straightforward RIFF format is easy to read and repair with basic tools
  • No DRM — AVI files contain no copy protection by design
  • Codec flexibility — can store video encoded with almost any codec (DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, H.264)

Limitations

  • No streaming support — AVI is not designed for progressive download or HTTP streaming
  • Limited metadata — no native support for chapters, subtitles, multiple audio tracks (without hacks), or modern HDR/colour metadata
  • Codec dependency — playback requires the matching codec installed; missing DivX/Xvid codecs cause audio but no video
  • Outdated compression — modern H.264 MP4 achieves the same quality at 50–70% smaller file sizes

Supported Software

  • Windows: Windows Media Player (with codec), VLC, Media Player Classic
  • macOS: VLC, Handbrake (conversion), QuickTime (with Flip4Mac)
  • Linux: VLC, Totem, MPlayer
  • Conversion: HandBrake, FFmpeg, Any Video Converter