FormatDrop
How-To Guide

How to Convert AVI to MOV

AVI files are the legacy of the Windows video era; MOV is QuickTime's native format and the standard for macOS video tools. Converting AVI to MOV makes your video files readable by Final Cut Pro, iMovie, and QuickTime Player — without compatibility warnings or codec installations.

Open AVI to MOV Converter

Step-by-step instructions

  1. 1

    Upload your AVI file

    Select your AVI. Files using Xvid, DivX, MS-MPEG4, or H.264 inside AVI all convert cleanly to MOV.

    Go to converter
  2. 2

    Choose MOV as output

    Select MOV. The converter re-encodes the video to H.264 (or H.265 if quality matters more than file size) and the audio to AAC. The result is a Mac-friendly QuickTime file.

  3. 3

    Download and import to your editor

    Drag the MOV into Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or DaVinci Resolve. macOS recognizes MOV natively, so no third-party codecs are required for editing or playback.

Why convert AVI to MOV?

AVI is Windows; MOV is macOS. Converting AVI to MOV is the bridge between those worlds — making Windows-era video files first-class citizens on Apple's video editing tools.

Your files never leave your device

FormatDrop runs the conversion engine entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. No file upload. No server. Nothing stored. You can verify this by opening DevTools → Network tab and watching: zero upload requests.

Frequently asked questions

FFmpeg command for AVI to MOV?
`ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart output.mov`. The faststart flag moves metadata to the beginning, improving streaming performance.
Why does my AVI file fail to import to Final Cut Pro?
FCP doesn't support most AVI codecs (Xvid, DivX) directly. Converting to MOV with H.264 makes the file FCP-compatible. Alternatively, install Perian (legacy) or use Compressor.
Will the conversion be lossless?
Re-encoding from one codec to another is technically lossy, but at CRF 18–20 the visible quality loss is negligible. For true lossless, use ProRes or DNxHD as the target codec inside MOV.
Convert AVI to MOV Now — Free

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Related guides

How to Convert HEIC to JPGHow to Convert PNG to PDFHow to Convert MOV to MP4How to Convert WebP to JPG