AVI to MP4: the honest answer
LocalVid converts files without uploading them — but AVI (1992) needs codecs browsers simply don't ship. Here's what actually works instead of pretending.
- AVI/WMV/FLV can't be read by browser media APIs
- Tools that "convert AVI online" upload your file to their servers
- Fastest local fix: VLC or HandBrake (free, 2 minutes)
- Once it's MP4/MOV/MKV — every LocalVid tool works, no upload
Why there's no dropzone here
Browsers can't read AVI, WMV or FLV — any site that "converts them online" is uploading your file to a server first. LocalVid doesn't upload, so we'd rather tell you the truth: convert once with the free, local VLC or HandBrake, then every tool below works on the result — instantly and privately.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't LocalVid convert AVI?
Our tools run on the browser's built-in media engines (that's why nothing uploads and multi-GB files work). Browsers never shipped AVI/WMV demuxers or the old codecs inside them (DivX, XviD, MS-MPEG4), so there's nothing local to run the file through. Sites that do it online are uploading your file — check their Network tab.
What's the fastest free way to convert AVI to MP4?
VLC (Media → Convert/Save, pick H.264+MP4) or HandBrake (open file, pick the Fast 1080p30 preset). Both are free, local, and take about as long as the video plays. Then trim/compress/GIF the MP4 here — locally.
Will you ever support AVI?
Possibly — a "legacy rescue" mode using a bundled software decoder (~30 MB download, explicit opt-in) is on the roadmap. It will still run 100% locally; we won't quietly upload your files to make a conversion look native.