Video conversion
Convert MPEG to AVI
Updated Jul 2026
MPEG is the compressed format used for broadcast video and DVDs, and AVI is an older Windows container that many legacy editing programs and devices still expect. To convert MPEG to AVI, open the file in a converter and export it as AVI. Doing it on your own computer means the footage never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .mpeg
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Broadcast, DVD
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
Convert MPEG to AVI on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert MPEG to AVI
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MPEG 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 your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
MPEG vs AVI: what actually changes
| MPEG | AVI | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller, built for broadcast and DVD storage | Larger, since it doesn't compress as aggressively |
| Quality | Lossy, some detail is discarded to shrink the file | Lossless in how it's exported, but it can't add back what MPEG already discarded |
| Compatibility | Wide support on DVD players, TVs, and broadcast systems | Best on Windows, weaker native support on Mac and mobile |
| Editing support | Awkward for frame-accurate editing | Preferred by many older Windows editing tools |
| Typical use today | Old DVDs, camcorder footage, broadcast recordings | Legacy software and hardware that only reads AVI |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MPEG to AVI when you need the footage for an older Windows editing program, a legacy device, or software that specifically asks for an AVI file rather than MPEG.
Keep the MPEG original if you're just archiving or playing the video back, since MPEG already plays on nearly everything and converting to AVI will make the file noticeably larger without improving the picture.
Why not just use an online converter?
MPEG files often hold personal footage, family videos, camcorder tapes, or recordings people would rather not hand to a stranger's server just to change the format. An online converter uploads the whole video before it can convert it. Morphjet converts it on your own computer instead, so the footage stays put.
Questions
Does converting MPEG to AVI improve the quality?
No. AVI itself doesn't compress away detail on export, but it can only preserve what's still in the MPEG file. Whatever compression already happened to the MPEG stays baked in.
Will the AVI file be much bigger than the MPEG?
Usually, yes. AVI doesn't squeeze the video down the way MPEG does, so the same footage typically takes up more space as AVI.
Does AVI play on Mac or iPhone?
Not natively in most cases. AVI is a Windows-era format, and modern Apple devices generally expect something else, so you may need a compatible player or a further conversion for those.
Can I convert MPEG to AVI without uploading the video?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so the footage never has to travel over the internet, even for large video files.
Morphjet converts MPEG, AVI, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.