If your AVI files are the typical AVI file type, encoded with a codec that QuickTime can't recognize, like DivX, XviD, you'll need to convert AVI to MOV or Mac OS compatible formats. And MOV is the most compatible format with QuickTime or other media player, so converting your AVI files to MOV can help you solve all the problems, then you can.

Why QuickTime Won't Play AVI Files? AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) is a container format designed by Microsoft to wrap audio and video stream together. The video in AVI file can be compressed by many kinds of codec, such as MJPEG (Motion JPEG), MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX, XviD, WMV and others. Install the Right Codec to Make QuickTime Play AVI on Mac. That QuickTime fails to play your AVI files may be because it doesn't support the AVI' codec. AVI is a container format. It can package various codecs, such as Xvid, DivX and 3ivX. So you need to know how the AVI file is coded and download the right codec for QuickTime to decode it on Mac. Other AVI Player for Mac are Elmedia Player, Cisdem, 5K Player, and others. Get the right codecs for AVI on Mac. Install 3ivx MPEG-4 codec on your system to view AVI files on Mac. The codec supports all the video files with AVI extension and plays them on QuickTime and other media players on Mac.

As we all know, AVI is only supported by a Windows-based operations system or program. It seems impossible to play AVI video on Mac QuickTime. To solve this problem, you'd better convert AVI to MOV on Mac. There is no doubt that many QuickTime users might have the same problem. This article will explain why this problem could happen and why converting AVI to MOV with the best Video Converter for Mac is the best way out.

• >> Why Need Convert AVI to MOV on Mac
• >> All-in-one AVI to MOV Converter for Mac
• >> Free Online AVI to MOV Converter
• >> Extended Knowledge: AVI VS MOV

Why Need Convert AVI to MOV on Mac?

AVI is a container format designed by Microsoft to wrap audio and video stream together. The video in AVI file can be compressed by many kinds of codec, such as MJPEG (Motion JPEG), MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX, XviD and others. So far, QuickTime only plays MOV files with MJPEG video whether you are a Mac user or not and AVI videos with MJPEG are not common enough.

If your AVI files are the typical AVI file type, encoded with a codec that QuickTime can't recognize, like DivX, XviD, you'll need to convert AVI to MOV or Mac OS compatible formats. And MOV is the most compatible format with QuickTime or other media player, so converting your AVI files to MOV can help you solve all the problems, then you can use QuickTime or any others to play converted videos.

All-in-one AVI to MOV Converter for Mac

In order to convert AVI to MOV on mac perfectly, you need a third-party media conversion tool. I recommend you the best Video Converter for Mac from Cisdem, which allows converting video formats. This professional and easy-to-use Video Converter for Mac has helped thousands of users to convert any formats. It can help you edit your videos with numerous practical editing functions, and add 3D effects to your videos. It converts videos with the highest possible quality. Below are a whole bunch of useful features of Cisdem AVI to MOV Converter:

Avi Codec For Quicktime Mac

• Built-in Media Player
• Batch Conversion Supported
• Exact audio files from DVD/videos
• Keep AC3 5.1 Audio
• Advanced Output Settings
• Download videos from 1000+ video sharing sites.
• Rip DVD to video with fatest speed

With Cisdem Video Converter, you can do whatever you can, its powerful functions can help you successfully convert AVI to MOV on mac without any quality loss, here we will show you steps on how to convert AVI to MOV on Mac.

Steps to Convert AVI to MOV on Mac with Cisdem Video Converter

1. Adding AVI video files

Click on the media browser at the top right corner to load to Cisdem Video Converter in the window appears or directly drag the AVI files you want to load to this app to the black area on the right part of the main interface.

2. Choose the output MOV format

Click and a list would show up in which you can choose the format you want to convert that file to. Here you should choose MOV as the output format

3. Edit your AVI video

If you want to edit AVI video before converting, please click the edit button. Basic but practical editing functions are provided in Cisdem AVI to MOV Converter. You can rotate, trim, crop your AVI video and add effects to your video.

4. Convert your AVI video to MOV on Mac

At this point, you can preview your video first, then you can initiate the conversion by clicking the conversion button on the lower right corner.

Free Online AVI to MOV Converter

Zamzar is an online video converter, you don’t have to download the software, just select your file, pick a format to convert to. It’s very convenient for users to convert AVI to MOV on Mac. It supports 1200+ file formats of image, video, audio, etc. The disadvantage of Zamzar is that it has no editing function. So the operating steps is very simple, below we will show you how to use Zamzar to convert AVI to MOV.

Steps to Convert AVI to MOV on Mac with Zamzar

1. Select file to convert, you can drag and drop your local AVI files to convert, but the storage of your file is no more than 100M.
2. Choose MOV as your output format.
3. Enter your email address to receive your output MOV files, confirm that your email is right to receive.
4. Convert your AVI files by clicking the convert button. After the conversion is finished, you will receive an email to download your output MOV files.

Pros:

• Completely free
• No need download extra software
• Supports a good deal of formats

Cons:

• Must work with Internet connection
• Requests an e-mail address
• The conversion speed is unstable

Extended Knowledge: AVI VS MOV

Related:Extended Knowledge for MOV and WMV

Conclusion

That's really all there is to AVI to MOV Mac- it's that simple. I prefer using a professional AVI to MOV converter rather than a free online one. Since the third-party app is more reassuring and user-friendly. I hope you’ve got a clearer understanding of the contents mentioned above.

Do you have any recommendable AVI to MOV converter or any supplement about AVI VS MOV? Tell us what you think down in the comments!

My QuickTime player is not playing .avi files and says I need a codec. I am not able to play any .avi files on QuickTime. How could I fix this because I want to play these files with QuickTime?

Playing AVI files is one of the biggest worries for a Mac user. None of the four major Indeo codecs that are required to decode AVI files have been integrated into QuickTime. In some cases, even if the required codecs are available, the AVI video file does not play due to corruption. So, before we get to know how to play AVI files on Mac or how to fix AVI files that are not playing on Mac, let’s get a quick look at Audio Video Interleave (AVI) format.

Image Source: support.apple.com

Why AVI Files don’t Play on Mac?

Just like any other media player, QuickTime on Mac also examines both the audio and video codecs within the video file whenever you open any file on Mac. If the codecs are not used by the media player it won’t play the video. QuickTime media player does not recognize the Cinepak and ALaw 2:1 codecs used in the AVI video file format. And as a result, when you try to play AVI files in QuickTime, the player doesn’t play the video.

What is an AVI file?

The full form of AVI is Audio Video Interleave. Like any video file format, AVI is a container format that defines how video data is packed into a file. Unlike other video formats, it does not predefine or specify the protocol or procedure involved while recording or creating a file. As an AVI file structure has the organizational format of streams and stream data, it is defined by two lists namely List Chunk and Index Chunk.

List Chunk: The list chunk has metadata, the size of the file, frame rates, and audio/video information.

Index Chunk: The index chunk is responsible for saving the locations of data within the container.

Note: If any of these crucial chunks are missing in your AVI video file, then your AVI file will not play.

What is a Codec?

A codec that is short for compressor and decompressor is responsible for decoding the video and audio tracks that have been encoded or packed in the .avi file.

It is to be noted that an AVI file or any video file does not come with codecs. Codecs are a part of the video player package like QuickTime.

However, if the codec used to encode the AVI file is not available in the QuickTime player, then your AVI file will not play. Thus, you can expand the codec library of the player by downloading the specific codec required to play the AVI video file.

Problems Associated With Running AVI on Mac Using QuickTime

When an AVI file is opened using QuickTime player, it scans the file to see which codecs have been used to encode the data in the container/AVI file.

The AVI format video will play as expected if the video and audio in the codec are compressed using a codec that exists in the QuickTime package. Nevertheless, problems arise while playing AVI files on Mac when the codec does not exist in the library and leads to an unplayable AVI file on Mac. The file may also refuse to play if the AVI file is corrupt. Fix corrupt AVI files on Mac before trying any workaround.

Unplayable AVI Files Return The Following Errors:

• “QuickTime is missing the software needed to perform this operation. Unfortunately, it is not available on the QuickTime server”
• 'You may experience problems playing a video track in 'file.avi' because the required compressor could not be found”

Additionally, the latest version QuickTime X does not have a few major codecs like Indeo or native DivX support and you might end up with the question “How to play unplayable AVI file on Mac?”.

Now that you have understood the complications associated with AVI files that are unplayable on Mac, the following workarounds mentioned below have been provided to help you fix if Mac or MacBook not playing a video.

Methods to Fix Unplayable AVI files on Mac

1. Find the Right Codec to Play the AVI File on QuickTime:

Find the codec used to encode the file using QuickTime by opening the file using QuickTime and select the Show Movie Info option from the Window menu.

The video file information is listed, and you will be able to find codec information after format properties. Check if the QuickTime version supports the codec that is listed in the video properties.

Check on the QuickTime support site if the codec is supported by the player if you don’t find the codec preinstalled with QuickTime. If you don’t find the respective codec or if it is an unsupportive codec, then your AVI video won’t play. In case it is supported then you can go ahead and install the codec after downloading it from the author or the publisher’s site.

Note: Download the codec from genuine and trusted sources to avoid compromising your system security.

Mac Os X Quicktime Avi Codec

2. Download and Install Standardized Video Encoders

There are two major industry-standard codecs for Mac that can extend the playback capabilities. The following codecs have been referred to as the most preferred codecs that enable you to open .avi files on Mac:

• Install 3ivx D4 codec:
  This codec enables greater video quality at lower file size values up to fifty percent when compared to the MPEG-4 standard designed by Apple. This decoder increases the efficiency of the video storage and transmission of files that are rendered too large. It is an integration of a huge set of video and audio codecs that allow playback of almost all the AVI files with AAC audio and video of MPEG-4. You can fix your unplayable AVI file by installing 3ivx D4 on your Mac. Further, there is no need to download any other components like plug-ins to play the AVI file unless a proprietary codec is used to encode the file.

• Install DivX for Mac free codec to fix AVI files in Quick time:
  While you can play the majority of AVI files after you install this free codec for Mac, its major disadvantage is that the audio sometimes might be distorted or only the video is played. For this reason, the DivX codec for Mac is a secondary option when compared to 3ivx D4 codec.

Note: Only one among the above two codecs are to be used at once as they share the same set of library files to decode the video. Hence it is recommended to install only one codec to avoid malfunction of the QuickTime player.

3. Use an Alternate player to Play AVI files on Mac:

VLC or Video LAN Client is a cross-platform media player that supports a wide variety of AVI video and audio codecs. Therefore, choosing VLC as an alternative media player to play the unplayable AVI file on Quick Time is one of the easiest ways.
Because of its large library of free encoding and decoding libraries, you will no longer need any additional codec download or proprietary plug-ins.

4. Play AVI Files By Converting Into QuickTime Supported MOV Files:

Another workaround to fix the unplayable AVI video on Mac is to convert the AVI file into a QuickTime supported file format like MOV.
Post conversion, the file will be playable on Mac. However, most of the converters break the index of the AVI file while conversion, this method is least recommended. Lastly, if the converted video file stops playing halfway try AVI index repair on Mac.

Note: Have a copy of your AVI file before converting them to any other compatible format as your AVI file might get corrupt due to improper conversion and leads to permanent inaccessible AVI files.

AVI Still Not Playing In Mac?

If the AVI video file remains unplayable even after getting the correct codecs, using the compatible player, or converting to MOV, it is probably because the video file is corrupt. The only solution to this is to try an AVI video repair software. Choose a professional AVI video repair tool like Remo AVI Repair.

Remo Repair AVI fixes and works on a duplicate version of your original AVI file to prevent modification on the original file. The self-explanatory interface helps you to fix the video in just 3 clicks. Download the Remo Repair AVI tool now to fix your unplayable video and preview it for free before saving.

Remo Repair AVI Can Also:

• Repair AVI files that are corrupted
• Repair AVI files if their index is corrupted
• Repairs AVI files if there is no audio or playing only audio in the video file

Quicktime Player Mac Avi Codec

Conclusion:

Quicktime Avi Codec Mac

With the mentioned free workarounds or by using the above-mentioned AVI repair tool, you must have fixed your unplayable AVI videos on Mac. However, you can always make use of Remo Software’s technical assistance team as they will guide you with the repairing process of the software if needed.