Video format
What is a AVI file?
AVI is an older Windows video container from the 1990s — still around, but far less efficient than modern formats.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) was Microsoft's original multimedia container, introduced in the early 1990s as part of the Video for Windows framework. It works by interleaving small chunks of audio and video data so playback could keep up with the disk speeds of the time, which was a genuine innovation then, but by modern standards its compression is inefficient and its metadata support limited. It's still around mainly because so much older footage and legacy software was built around it.
How to open a AVI file
AVI files open readily in VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player. For real editing rather than just viewing, reach for Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve.
Strengths & limitations
Good for
- simple, widely-documented structure
Watch out for
- poor compression by modern standards
- inconsistent support outside Windows
Frequently asked questions
What does a AVI file contain?+
AVI is an older Windows video container from the 1990s — still around, but far less efficient than modern formats.
Can I convert AVI on Orbfile?+
Not currently — AVI needs a codec Orbfile can't ship under a permissive, production-safe open-source license, so there's no converter for it here. See the section above for how to open one instead.
Is converting a AVI file safe and private?+
Yes. Orbfile processes AVI files locally on your device using WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded to a server, so there's nothing to leak or store.
Who created the AVI format?+
AVI was developed by Microsoft, first released around 1992.
Browse the full file format guide.