Do I need to install FFmpeg?

Yes. FFmpeg is a free, open-source tool. Download it from ffmpeg.org or install via your package manager (brew install ffmpeg on macOS, apt install ffmpeg on Ubuntu, winget install ffmpeg on Windows).

Will re-encoding reduce quality?

Choosing "copy streams" (-c copy) does a lossless re-mux with no quality change. Choosing "re-encode to H.264" applies lossy compression; the default CRF 18 is near-visually lossless for most content.

What is the difference between M4V and MP4?

M4V is essentially an MP4 with an Apple-specific header. Most players treat them identically. Renaming an .m4v to .mp4 usually works fine if there is no iTunes DRM applied.

Why does my AVI have no audio after conversion?

Some AVI files use MP3 audio, which is not always compatible with M4V. Use the re-encode preset; it converts audio to AAC, which is required for M4V/Apple device compatibility.

Can I convert multiple files at once?

Yes — on Linux/macOS, wrap the generated command in a shell loop: for f in *.avi; do ffmpeg -i "$f" "${f%.avi}.m4v"; done

AVI to M4V Converter

Generate the exact FFmpeg command to convert your AVI video file to M4V format — copy, paste, and run.

Command Builder

Input AVI file

File name or full path, e.g. /home/user/video.avi

Output M4V file

Conversion mode

Copy streams (fastest, lossless)

Re-mux only. Works when AVI already uses H.264 + AAC. No quality change.

Re-encode to H.264 + AAC

Best compatibility. Required for DivX/Xvid/MP3 source AVI files.

Re-encode to H.265 (HEVC) + AAC

Smaller file size than H.264. Requires newer Apple device / macOS 10.13+.

FFmpeg Command

ffmpeg -i input.avi -c copy output.m4v

Flag Breakdown

How to Run

1

Install FFmpeg

Download from ffmpeg.org or run brew install ffmpeg / apt install ffmpeg.
2

Open a terminal

On Windows: press Win+R and type cmd. On macOS/Linux: open Terminal.
3

Navigate to your file

Use cd /path/to/folder to move to the folder containing your AVI file.
4

Paste and run the command

Copy the command above, paste it into the terminal, and press Enter.
5

Check the output

The M4V file appears in the same folder when FFmpeg finishes. Verify playback in QuickTime or VLC.

Copied!

Summary

M4V is an Apple-developed video container format based on MPEG-4, widely used on iTunes, Apple TV, and iOS devices. Converting from AVI (Audio Video Interleave) to M4V requires re-muxing or transcoding with a tool like FFmpeg. This generator builds the correct FFmpeg command for you so you can run it in any terminal without memorizing flags.

How it works

Enter the name (or full path) of your source AVI file.
Enter the desired output M4V filename.
Choose whether to copy the video stream as-is or re-encode to H.264.
Click "Generate Command" to build the FFmpeg command.
Copy the command and paste it into your terminal.
Run the command — FFmpeg converts the file in seconds to minutes depending on file size.

Use cases

Prepare video files for iTunes or Apple TV playback.
Convert legacy AVI recordings for use on iPhone or iPad.
Batch-convert AVI archives to a more modern container format.
Re-mux AVI video that already uses H.264/AAC without quality loss.
Transcode older AVI codecs (DivX, Xvid) to H.264 for broad compatibility.
Create M4V files with optional DRM-ready containers for Apple ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-13 · Reviewed by Nham Vu