Video conversion
Convert AVI to WebM
Updated Jul 2026
AVI is an older Windows video format, often large and lightly compressed, while WebM is a compact format built for playing directly in web browsers. To convert AVI to WebM, open the file in a converter and export it as WebM. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere to get converted.
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
- Extension
- .webm
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Web video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert AVI to WebM on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AVI to WebM
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AVI file, or a whole folder of them, to convert several at once.
- Choose WebM as the output format.
- Convert. The WebM file is written to your drive, and the video never leaves your machine.
AVI vs WebM: what actually changes
| AVI | WebM | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, light compression | Much smaller for the same footage |
| Quality | High, often close to the original recording | Good, but re-compressed and slightly lossy |
| Plays in web browsers | No, needs a separate media player | Yes, natively |
| Compatibility | Strong on older Windows software | Strong on the modern web, weaker in old desktop players |
| Good for | Local storage, editing, archiving | Uploading, embedding, streaming |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AVI to WebM when you need to put a video on a website, embed it in an app, or send it somewhere that expects a compact, browser-friendly file instead of an old Windows format.
Keep the AVI original if you're archiving footage or plan to edit it further, since AVI holds more of the source quality and WebM's compression is a one-way trip.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old home movies and camera footage saved as AVI are often personal, and running them through an online converter means handing that video to a server you don't control. Converting on your own computer keeps the file, and whatever it shows, entirely on your machine, with nothing sent out over the internet.
Questions
Does converting AVI to WebM lose quality?
A little. WebM compresses the video more aggressively than most AVI files, so there's a real, one-time drop in quality. It's usually fine for web playback, but not ideal if you want to preserve the source exactly.
Will a WebM file play everywhere an AVI does?
No, it's the opposite trade. WebM plays natively in web browsers, but some older desktop media players and editing software that handle AVI fine don't support WebM without an extra plugin.
Why convert an old AVI file at all?
AVI was common on Windows years ago, and many browsers and modern apps won't play it directly or will only play it awkwardly. WebM is built for the web, so it's a more practical choice if the video is going online.
Can I convert AVI to WebM without uploading the file?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off if you want to be sure.
Morphjet converts AVI, WebM, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.