Why won't my MKV play on my DVD player or old TV?

Most DVD players and older TVs only recognize AVI files with MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid/DivX) video and MP3 audio. MKV is a newer, more flexible container, but legacy hardware often can't read it. Converting to AVI with Xvid/MP3 makes the file readable by these devices.

Will converting MKV to AVI make my file smaller?

Usually not. In fact, the AVI is often larger. Xvid (MPEG-4 Part 2) is less efficient than modern codecs like H.264 or H.265, so a 4-minute 1080p MKV (120 MB) might become a 150–200 MB AVI. Quality will also drop slightly due to re-encoding.

Can I keep subtitles or multiple audio tracks?

No. AVI does not support embedded subtitles or multiple audio tracks. Only the default video and audio stream are kept in the conversion. If you need subtitles, you must burn them into the video before converting, or use a modern format.

Does this work offline? Is my file uploaded?

All conversion happens in your browser using WebAssembly. Your MKV never leaves your device—nothing is uploaded to a server. However, the whole file must load into memory, so very large MKVs may be slow on low-end devices.

Can Windows or Mac built-in tools convert MKV to AVI?

No. Windows Photos and Clipchamp can't export AVI. QuickTime on Mac does not support AVI export. VLC can do basic conversions, but with fewer options and less predictable results. Free tools like HandBrake do not write AVI. Videozify fills this gap in the browser.

Is it safe to convert long MKV videos to AVI?

Technically yes, but browser memory limits apply. Videos longer than 1 hour or larger than 2 GB may crash the tab or fail to convert. For best results, trim your MKV to the needed segment before converting, or use a desktop tool for very large files.

Will the AVI play on my modern phone or computer?

Most modern devices can play AVI, but it's not recommended unless you need to. MP4 or MKV offer better quality and features. AVI is best reserved for old hardware, DVD players, or legacy editors that simply refuse MKV.

Can I batch convert multiple MKV files at once?

No, this tool processes one file at a time to avoid browser memory problems. For batch conversions, use desktop software like FFmpeg on the command line. Convert, download, and then process the next file in the browser.

MKV → AVI

MKV to AVI Converter

Drop a file here

Click to browse, or paste a file from the clipboard.

Choose file

This MKV to AVI converter re-encodes your video to MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid) video and MP3 audio at 192 kbps. It is designed for maximum compatibility with DVD players, older TVs, and legacy editing software that refuse MKV files. Drop your MKV, convert, and download an AVI that plays on devices too old for modern formats.

How to convert MKV to AVI

Drop your MKV file onto the box above, or click Browse to choose it from your device.
Wait for the file to load. Check that the preview matches what you want to convert.
Press Convert. The tool will re-encode the video and audio for AVI compatibility.
Download the AVI file when the conversion completes. The file saves only to your device.

Why convert MKV to AVI?

MKV (Matroska) is a flexible video container that can hold almost any codec, subtitle, or audio format. It's common for Blu-ray authoring exports, anime, and downloaded movies, and is the default output for many open-source encoders. But many DVD players, TVs, and older video editors only accept AVI files, and may not recognize MKV at all.

If you have an MKV file that refuses to play on your DVD player, or you get an error when importing to legacy editing software, converting to AVI is often the only way to get the file accepted. AVI is an older container, widely supported by hardware made before 2012. It expects video in MPEG-4 Part 2 (often called Xvid or DivX) and MP3 or PCM audio.

Our preset converts the MKV video stream to MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid tag) at a quality scale of 4, and the audio to MP3 at 192 kbps. This is a safe combination for compatibility with most standalone DVD players, digital photo frames, and older Windows editors. If your TV or player says 'unsupported format' when you try to play an MKV, this conversion can often fix it.

Expect some increase in file size. A 4-minute 1080p MKV (around 120 MB) typically grows to 150–200 MB as an AVI, depending on the source bitrate and frame size. That's because Xvid is less efficient than H.264 or H.265, which MKV often uses. Picture quality may soften, especially for high-motion or detailed scenes, since MPEG-4 Part 2 is a generation behind modern codecs.

You should only convert to AVI when you need to. If your device or app already supports MKV, or you are uploading to a modern platform, keep the original. AVI lacks support for modern features like subtitles, multiple audio tracks, or variable frame rates. The conversion also compresses the video again, so some quality is always lost.

Windows built-in apps like Photos or Clipchamp can't export AVI. On macOS, QuickTime does not handle AVI export at all. VLC can play both MKV and AVI, and does have a basic convert function, but it exposes fewer options and can be confusing for batch jobs. Audacity is audio-only. Free desktop tools like HandBrake do not write AVI. Videozify covers the gap for browser-based, no-install AVI conversion.

Trim your MKV to a shorter segment before converting with the video trimmer, or extract audio only if you just need the soundtrack.

MKV vs AVI: what's the difference?

Property	MKV	AVI
Extension	.mkv	.avi
Container type	Matroska (open, modern)	Audio Video Interleave (legacy)
Typical size (4 min, 1080p)	120 MB (H.264/AAC)	150–200 MB (Xvid/MP3)
Supported video codecs	H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1, MPEG-4, many more	MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid/DivX), rarely others
Audio tracks	AAC, Opus, DTS, multi-track, subtitles	MP3, PCM, usually one track, no subtitles
Device support	Modern TVs, phones, PCs, editors	DVD players, old TVs, legacy editors

MKV is a flexible, modern video container. AVI is a legacy format for maximum compatibility with old devices, but with fewer features and lower efficiency.

Does converting MKV to AVI reduce quality?

Yes. Converting to AVI requires re-encoding both video and audio. The preset uses MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid) at a quality scale of 4 and MP3 at 192 kbps. This is a safe bet for old players, but Xvid is not as efficient as H.264 or H.265. Expect slightly larger files and softer details, especially if the original MKV was already compressed with a modern codec.

There is no bitrate slider or advanced quality control. The settings are fixed for compatibility. If you care about every pixel, keep your original MKV for archiving. Use the AVI only for playback on the device that needs it.

When should you NOT convert MKV to AVI?

Do not convert if your device or app already supports MKV. Modern smart TVs, Android devices, and most PC players (VLC, MPC-HC) handle MKV natively. AVI files cannot store multiple audio tracks, subtitles, or chapters. You lose these features in the conversion.

Avoid converting if you plan to edit or upload to a modern platform. video platforms, Instagram, and most editors prefer MP4 or MKV with H.264 video. AVI is mainly for legacy hardware and situations where nothing else works.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my MKV play on my DVD player or old TV?: Most DVD players and older TVs only recognize AVI files with MPEG-4 Part 2 (Xvid/DivX) video and MP3 audio. MKV is a newer, more flexible container, but legacy hardware often can't read it. Converting to AVI with Xvid/MP3 makes the file readable by these devices.
Will converting MKV to AVI make my file smaller?: Usually not. In fact, the AVI is often larger. Xvid (MPEG-4 Part 2) is less efficient than modern codecs like H.264 or H.265, so a 4-minute 1080p MKV (120 MB) might become a 150–200 MB AVI. Quality will also drop slightly due to re-encoding.
Can I keep subtitles or multiple audio tracks?: No. AVI does not support embedded subtitles or multiple audio tracks. Only the default video and audio stream are kept in the conversion. If you need subtitles, you must burn them into the video before converting, or use a modern format.
Does this work offline? Is my file uploaded?: All conversion happens in your browser using WebAssembly. Your MKV never leaves your device—nothing is uploaded to a server. However, the whole file must load into memory, so very large MKVs may be slow on low-end devices.
Can Windows or Mac built-in tools convert MKV to AVI?: No. Windows Photos and Clipchamp can't export AVI. QuickTime on Mac does not support AVI export. VLC can do basic conversions, but with fewer options and less predictable results. Free tools like HandBrake do not write AVI. Videozify fills this gap in the browser.
Is it safe to convert long MKV videos to AVI?: Technically yes, but browser memory limits apply. Videos longer than 1 hour or larger than 2 GB may crash the tab or fail to convert. For best results, trim your MKV to the needed segment before converting, or use a desktop tool for very large files.
Will the AVI play on my modern phone or computer?: Most modern devices can play AVI, but it's not recommended unless you need to. MP4 or MKV offer better quality and features. AVI is best reserved for old hardware, DVD players, or legacy editors that simply refuse MKV.
Can I batch convert multiple MKV files at once?: No, this tool processes one file at a time to avoid browser memory problems. For batch conversions, use desktop software like FFmpeg on the command line. Convert, download, and then process the next file in the browser.