MOV format was developed for Mac OS and QuickTime by Apple, the QuickTime (.mov) file format is relatively less popular than AVI, which is widely compatible with any computer or multimedia device, if you have MOV videos, and want to play them on Windows Media Player, DVD players or other devices, you can always convert MOV to AVI with a proper video converter.
In this article, we will look at how to convert MOV to AVI on Windows and Mac.
How to convert MOV to AVI on Windows and Mac
If you are a Windows or Mac user, TalkHelper Video Converter is the best way to convert MOV to AVI without quality loss, it is full-featured stand-alone program that provides 1,000 formats for video and audio conversion, you can easily convert MOV to MP4, AVI, MKV, and WMV using this tool.
Step 1: Import MOV video to free MOV to AVI converter
Download and launch TalkHelper MOV to AVI Converter, import the QuickTime MOV video that you want to convert to AVI format. You can also drag & drop them into the software.
Step 2: Choose the output video format
You can find a group of different AVI presets in the “Video->AVI” tab. Choose your preferred resolution (up to Full HD 1080P), codec (H.264, MPEG-4, Xvid, DivX, etc.), bitrate, quality and more.
Step 3: Start MOV to AVI Conversion
Click “Start Convert” button to proceed with the conversion from MOV to AVI easily.
Convert MOV to AVI using Freeware – VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a free and open-source multi-media player and converter that supports multiple platforms including Windows, Mac and Linux. VLC can be used to convert MOV QuickTime video to AVI format, you can also choose popular video codecs like DivX and Xvid for the output AVI file.
Steps to Change MOV to AVI Using VLC:
Step 1: Start the VLC Media Player on your system.
Step 2: Click on the “Media” tab and then select the “Convert/Save” option from the drop-down list.
Step 3: On the “Open Media” page, click “Add” option to add the .mov video files for conversion.
Step 4: Click on “Convert/Save” option, go to the Profile section and select “AVI” format as the target format; optionally you can choose “H.264”, “Xvid”, or “DivX” video compression.
Step 5: Click on “Start” button to start the MOV to AVI conversion process.
MOV vs. AVI: Difference between MOV and AVI file formats
| File Extension |
 .mov |
File Extension |
 .avi |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Full Name |
QuickTime Multimedia File Format |
Full Name |
Audio Video Interleave |
|
Description |
MOV is a multimedia container that stores movies files in QuickTime video format, it stores multiple tracks and different types of media data including video, audio, and subtitles. MOV files are commonly used for distributing movies and other videos through the internet. |
Description |
AVI is a multimedia container format created by Microsoft. AVI file format stores audio and video data using different codes, including Xvid and Divx in a single file. It also supports lossless compression and stores videos in raw form for editing software. |
|
Developer |
Apple Inc. |
Developer |
Microsoft |
|
MIME Type |
video/quicktime |
MIME Type |
video/x-msvideo |
|
Video Codecs |
MPEG-2, XVID, H.264, H265, Apple ProRes |
Video Codecs |
HEVC/H.265, AVC/H.264, VP9, VP8, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Visual, VC-1, H.263, DV, M-JPEG, YCbCr |
|
Audio Codecs |
AAC, MPEG-1 Audio Layer 1-2-3 |
Audio Codecs |
AAC, MP3, AC-3, DTS, WMA, Opus, MP2, MP1, FLAC, ALAC, WMA Lossless, LPCM, A-law PCM, AMR |
|
Pros |
+ Standard for professional video editing + Can be used in PCs and Macs |
Pros |
- Choice of codecs - Compatible with mainstream media players - Can be used to create playable DVDs |
|
Cons |
+ Mostly interchangeable within a QuickTime-only environment |
Cons |
- Does not support user interactivity - The codec used in an AVI file needs to be installed in order to playback it |
MOV to AVI: FAQ
Yes, VLC Media Player is a free multi-media player and converter that supports on various platforms such as Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can easily convert QuickTime MOV movies to AVI format with it. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download, install and start VLC Media Player.
Step 2: Click the “File” menu > “Convert/Stream…” > “Open media…” to import the MOV file.
Step 3: Select an AVI profile and click “Save as File”.
Step 4: Set output options and click the “Save” button to turn MOV to AVI.
CloudConvert is an online video converter that provides you a fast and convenient way to turn MOV video into AVI format without downloading any desktop software. Just follow these simple steps.
Step 1. Open CloudConvert website.
Step 2. Import the MOV QuickTime movie into the online converter.
Step 3. Choose AVI as the output format.
Step 4. Optionally adjust the parameters such as resolution, codec, FPS, etc.
Step 5. Start to convert MOV to AVI online.
The better format between MOV and AVI depends on the target use case as each has its pros in certain instances. For instance, MOV is best-suited for the Apple platform offering small video sizes at better quality and also supports MP4 codecs like H.264.
As for AVI, it is a popular video format by Microsoft that can be played on any device or computer, unlike MOV that is mostly compatible with Apple devices and media players like QuickTime. Therefore, if you are solely using an Apple device, MOV is better, but if you want device and platform flexibility, go for AVI.
