Free online AVI to MOV converter

Apple editing software, mobile devices, and some media applications accept MOV more reliably than older AVI files, so conversion may be required before editing, playback, or sharing. The conversion can either repackage compatible streams without quality loss or re-encode them with codecs suited to the target application.

What the AVI format is

AVI, or Audio Video Interleave, is a Microsoft multimedia container introduced for Windows. It can hold video and audio streams encoded with formats such as DivX, Xvid, MPEG-4, Motion JPEG, uncompressed video, and PCM audio.

AVI files are common in older Windows capture software, cameras, screen-recording tools, DVD-ripping applications, and legacy video-editing systems. AVI does not define one video quality level or compression method: the codecs inside the container determine playback requirements, file size, and image quality. Older AVI files may use codecs, timing information, or interlacing that current editors and devices handle inconsistently.

What the MOV format is

MOV is a container based on Apple’s QuickTime File Format. It can store H.264, HEVC, ProRes, MPEG-4, and other video streams, along with AAC, PCM, and other audio formats.

MOV fits macOS and iOS workflows, Apple editing software, and professional post-production because it can preserve multiple tracks, timecode, metadata, and editing codecs such as ProRes. MOV is not automatically smaller or higher quality than AVI; those properties depend on the codecs, bitrate, resolution, and frame-rate settings selected during conversion. MOV compatibility also varies by codec, so changing only the filename extension is not a conversion.

How to convert AVI to MOV

For a free desktop conversion with control over the output, install FFmpeg, place the source file in an accessible folder, and open Terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell in that folder. Run:

ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 20 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mov

This creates an MOV with H.264 video and AAC audio, a combination supported by many current players and editors. Values around crf 18 produce larger files with less compression; higher values reduce file size and image quality. The -preset option changes encoding speed and compression efficiency, not the source resolution.

For an editing master, use an intraframe codec such as ProRes instead of H.264:

ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -c:a pcm_s16le output.mov

ProRes with PCM audio produces much larger files, but intraframe video is easier to edit than long-GOP H.264. Confirm that the target editor supports the selected ProRes profile and the FFmpeg build includes the required encoder.

A graphical desktop converter can perform the same operation through an Open file → Output format → MOV → Convert workflow. Select H.264 video and AAC audio for general playback, or ProRes and PCM for an editing master. You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software; upload the AVI, choose MOV, start the conversion, and download the resulting file.

Quality and compatibility limitations

Repackaging the existing streams is possible when both the MOV container and the destination application support those codecs. With FFmpeg, try:

ffmpeg -i input.avi -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c copy output.mov

This is fast, preserves the original audio and video quality, and does not reduce the file size. It may fail or produce a file that remains difficult to play when the AVI contains DivX, Xvid, unusual audio, unsupported metadata, variable frame-rate timing, or damaged timestamps. Use the H.264/AAC or ProRes/PCM command when the streams are not compatible.

Transcoding cannot restore detail already lost in the source. Check the MOV for audio synchronization, interlacing, frame-rate changes, cropped edges, missing subtitles, and unsupported audio tracks. Deinterlacing, an explicit frame-rate conversion, or separate subtitle export may be required. Keep the original AVI until the MOV has been tested in the intended player or editor.