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How to open .AVI files on Mac

To open .AVI files on Mac, control-click the .AVI file and select 'Open With'.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Control-click the .AVI file and select 'Open With'.
  2. Choose 'QuickTime Player' or 'VLC Media Player' for better compatibility.

Common issues

AVI file won't play

This issue can occur if the necessary codec is missing or the file is corrupted.

  1. Install VLC Media Player, which supports a wide range of codecs.
  2. Verify the file's integrity by downloading it again.

No sound in AVI file

The audio codec may not be supported by your media player.

  1. Try playing the file with VLC Media Player.
  2. Check your system's audio settings for proper configuration.

AVI file is too large

AVI files can be large due to uncompressed video data.

  1. Consider converting the file to a more compressed format like MP4 using HandBrake.
  2. Ensure you have sufficient storage space for large files.

The AVI plays with a black picture or without sound

AVI is an old container; the video inside often uses codecs such as DivX or Xvid that are not installed by default.

  1. Open it in VLC media player, which includes these codecs.
  2. Re-encode it to MP4 (H.264/AAC) with HandBrake (free) so that it plays everywhere.
  3. Do not install "codec packs" from unknown websites; they are a common source of malware.

Still can’t open your .AVI file?

Repair a damaged .AVI file

If the file opens with errors or not at all, a dedicated repair tool can often rebuild it. Work on a copy and keep the original file untouched.

Wondershare Repairit (Video)

Repairs corrupt or unplayable video files such as MP4, MOV and AVI.

Recover a deleted or lost .AVI file

If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery

Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.

Wondershare Recoverit

Windows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.

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Security note

Download .AVI files only from reputable sources to avoid malware.

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