Video conversion
Convert M4V to AVI
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is the video format iTunes uses, and AVI is an older container format that a lot of Windows software still expects. To convert M4V to AVI, open the file in a converter and export it as AVI. This works for M4V files you created or ripped yourself, and doing it on your own computer means the video never leaves your machine.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
Convert M4V to AVI on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to AVI
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, to convert several at once.
- Choose AVI as the output format.
- Convert. The AVI file is written next to the original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs AVI: what actually changes
| M4V | AVI | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller, modern compression | Much larger for the same video |
| Quality | Lossy, compressed on export | Lossless, no further quality loss |
| Compatibility | Best on Apple devices and apps | Opens in a lot of older Windows software and editing tools |
| Chapters and artwork | Can store chapters, captions, artwork | Simple container, doesn't keep those extras |
| Copy protection | Purchased or rented titles may be locked | No copy protection support |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to AVI when you need to open the video in older Windows software, load it into an editing program that doesn't read M4V, or move it onto a system that expects AVI.
Keep the M4V if you're just watching it on an Apple device or through Apple's own apps, since it already plays fine there and AVI won't gain you anything.
Why not just use an online converter?
Online converters ask you to upload your video to their servers, wait in line, and download it back, which means a copy of your video sits on a machine you don't control, even if just for a few minutes. Converting with Morphjet skips all of that. The M4V never leaves your Mac or PC, and the AVI is written straight to your drive.
Questions
Does converting M4V to AVI lose quality?
No, the conversion itself doesn't add another layer of lossy compression, so the picture quality carries over. The trade-off is a much bigger file, since AVI isn't nearly as efficient at storing video as M4V.
Will an M4V bought from iTunes convert to AVI?
Not if it's still protected. Movies and shows purchased or rented through iTunes are usually locked with copy protection, and no converter, including Morphjet, can open or convert a protected file. M4V files you created yourself, say from ripping a DVD, don't have that lock.
Does the AVI keep chapters and other extras?
No. AVI is an older, simpler container with no place for chapters, closed captions, or artwork, so those get dropped in the conversion. The video and audio track over fine.
Can I convert M4V to AVI without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the video never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Why would I want AVI instead of just keeping M4V?
AVI is decades old but still opens in a lot of older Windows software and editing tools that don't recognize M4V at all. If you're moving a video onto an older Windows machine or into legacy editing software, AVI is often the format that just works.
Morphjet converts M4V, AVI, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.