Video conversion
Convert AVI to 3GP
Updated Jul 2026
AVI is an old Windows video container that often stores footage with little to no compression, and 3GP is a compact format built for early mobile phones. To convert AVI to 3GP, open the file in a converter and export it as 3GP, which shrinks the resolution and file size to fit small screens and slow connections. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
- Extension
- .3gp
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Old mobile phones
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert AVI to 3GP on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AVI to 3GP
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AVI file, or a whole folder of them.
- Choose 3GP as the output format.
- Convert. The 3GP file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
AVI vs 3GP: what actually changes
| AVI | 3GP | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, often uncompressed or lightly compressed | Much smaller, built for limited storage and slow networks |
| Quality | Lossless or near-lossless, depending on how it was recorded | Lossy, with noticeably lower resolution and bitrate |
| Typical resolution | Can hold high resolution and modern frame rates | Capped low, often no better than early mobile phone screens |
| Compatibility | Plays natively on Windows, needs extra software on Mac or mobile | Built for old feature phones, now a largely retired mobile format |
| Audio | Can carry multiple audio tracks and formats | Simpler, single-track audio suited to small mobile files |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AVI to 3GP when you need to feed old mobile phone software, a legacy embedded system, or an archived app that only accepts the format, or when you specifically want the smallest possible file and don't care about resolution.
Keep the AVI original if you want to preserve picture quality or plan to edit the video later, because 3GP throws away resolution and detail that can't be recovered.
Why not just use an online converter?
AVI files are often full home videos, screen recordings, or old camcorder footage people would rather not hand to a stranger's server just to shrink them down. An online converter means uploading that video and waiting for it to come back. Converting on your own computer keeps the footage on your machine the entire time.
Questions
Does converting AVI to 3GP lose quality?
Yes, noticeably. 3GP compresses hard and caps resolution well below what AVI typically stores, so this conversion trades quality for a much smaller file.
Is 3GP still used on modern phones?
Rarely. It was built for feature phones from the early 2000s and has mostly been replaced by newer formats. You'd convert to it today mainly for legacy hardware or software that still expects it.
Will the audio stay in sync after converting?
Yes. The conversion re-encodes both video and audio together, so timing is preserved even though the audio track itself gets simplified.
Does the 3GP file keep the original's metadata?
Not reliably. 3GP was designed to be minimal, so extra details like camera info or timestamps in the AVI often don't carry over.
Can I convert AVI to 3GP without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so the video never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts AVI, 3GP, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.