Free online 3GP to XVID converter

Older phones and cameras often save recordings as 3GP, while legacy media players, DVD players, and editing applications may require Xvid video in an AVI container. Converting replaces the original codec and usually makes the clip easier to open on software or hardware that supports MPEG-4 Part 2.

What the 3GP format is

3GP is a multimedia container designed for 3G mobile networks and early mobile phones. Phones commonly create .3gp files with H.263 or MPEG-4 Part 2 video and AMR-NB, AAC, or AAC-LC audio; the exact codecs depend on the device. You may encounter 3GP recordings from older Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola, and other phones, as well as files opened by QuickTime Player, VLC, and FFmpeg.

The container itself does not determine the video codec. Changing the filename extension does not convert the video; the streams must be decoded and encoded into compatible formats.

What the Xvid format is

Xvid is an implementation of the MPEG-4 Part 2 Advanced Simple Profile video codec. It is normally stored in an .avi container with MP3 audio, although Xvid video can also be placed in other containers. Many older standalone DVD players, televisions, portable players, and Windows applications support Xvid AVI files.

Xvid is useful when a target device specifically lists Xvid or MPEG-4 Part 2 support. It is an older codec and generally provides less compression efficiency than H.264 or H.265, so it is not usually the best choice for new archives when modern playback compatibility is available.

How to convert 3GP to Xvid

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg provides direct control over the video codec, audio codec, quality, and output container. Install a build that includes the libxvid encoder, place the source file in a working folder, and run:

ffmpeg -i input.3gp -c:v libxvid -q:v 4 -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 128k output.avi

This command encodes the video as Xvid, converts the audio to MP3 for broad AVI compatibility, and writes output.avi. Lower -q:v values produce higher video quality and larger files; values around 3–5 are a practical starting range. To preserve the source dimensions and frame rate, do not add scaling or frame-rate options.

If the source has no audio, use:

ffmpeg -i input.3gp -an -c:v libxvid -q:v 4 output.avi

To check the codecs before converting, run:

ffprobe input.3gp

If FFmpeg reports that libxvid is unavailable, install a full FFmpeg build or use a desktop converter that exposes Xvid as a video codec.

Using Avidemux

Open the file in Avidemux, set Video Output → MPEG-4 ASP (Xvid4), choose Audio Output → MP3 (LAME), and set Output Format → AVI Muxer. Select Video Output → Configure to choose a quality or bitrate, then use File → Save and give the result an .avi filename. The available Xvid label can vary by Avidemux version and operating system.

Using the online converter

You can convert the file for free on the 101convert.com website without installing software. Select the 3GP input, choose Xvid or AVI as the output when offered, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. The service may choose compatible audio and container settings automatically rather than exposing FFmpeg-level controls.

Quality and compatibility considerations

Because conversion decodes and re-encodes the video, it causes another generation of quality loss. A 3GP file recorded at a small phone resolution cannot gain detail by choosing a higher Xvid bitrate or enlarging the frame; retain the original dimensions unless the target device requires a specific size.

For older hardware, use AVI with MP3 audio, standard frame dimensions, and a moderate bitrate. Some players reject variable frame rate, unusual pixel formats, or AAC and AMR audio inside AVI even when they can decode Xvid video. If playback fails, inspect the file with ffprobe and convert the audio to MP3, use a constant frame rate, or reduce the video dimensions.