Can I convert DRM-protected M4V files from iTunes to AVI?

No. M4V files purchased from iTunes and protected by Apple FairPlay DRM cannot be decoded by FFmpeg, HandBrake, or VLC. Only DRM-free M4V files — personal recordings, screen captures, or unlocked purchases — can be converted to AVI.

Why would I convert M4V to AVI instead of MP4?

AVI is an older Microsoft container with broad compatibility in legacy Windows software, certain set-top boxes, and older surveillance or broadcast systems. If your target device or editor requires AVI input and will not accept MP4 or M4V, then converting to AVI makes sense. For all modern use cases, MP4 is the better target format.

Will converting M4V to AVI reduce quality?

Yes, re-encoding always involves some generation loss. To minimize it, use a high-quality preset: in FFmpeg set a low CRF (e.g., -crf 18 with libx264) or use -q:v 3 with Xvid. HandBrake's RF quality slider at 18–20 also gives near-lossless results. The quality loss is imperceptible at these settings for most content.

Which video codec should I use inside AVI?

H.264 (libx264) inside AVI gives the best compression and quality, though not all legacy AVI players support it. Xvid is the most compatible choice for older software and hardware — use -c:v libxvid in FFmpeg. DivX is also widely supported but requires a separate codec install on Windows.

Is my video file uploaded anywhere?

No. This page contains only instructions and a client-side metadata inspector. All conversion work runs on your local machine via FFmpeg, HandBrake, or VLC. No file data leaves your computer.

How long does M4V to AVI conversion take?

A 1-hour M4V file typically converts in 2–10 minutes depending on your CPU and the codec preset. FFmpeg with -preset fast takes about 2–3 minutes per hour of video on a modern CPU. HandBrake with hardware encoding (AMD VCE, Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC) can be even faster.

M4V to AVI Converter

Name: M4V to AVI Converter
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Learn how to convert M4V files to AVI using FFmpeg, HandBrake, or VLC — free tools, no file upload required.

Video File Inspector

Select any video file to read its metadata instantly — 100% client-side, nothing uploaded.

Click to choose a video file M4V, AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV…

DRM note: iTunes-purchased M4V files protected by Apple FairPlay DRM cannot be converted. Only DRM-free M4V files work with the tools below.

M4V vs. AVI — Format Comparison

Know what you are converting and why

Feature	M4V	AVI
Developer	Apple (2003)	Microsoft (1992)
Common codecs	H.264, H.265, AAC	Xvid, DivX, H.264, MPEG-2
Platform support	Apple ecosystem, modern players	Legacy Windows software
DRM support	Apple FairPlay (optional)	None
Streaming	Supported	Not supported
Max file size	No practical limit	2 GB (AVI 1.0 limit)

FFmpeg (Recommended — full codec control)

Free, cross-platform, most flexible

FFmpeg re-encodes M4V to AVI using Xvid (widest legacy compatibility) or H.264 (better quality/size). AVI does not support a lossless stream copy from M4V because the container formats differ, so re-encoding is required.

# Install on Mac via Homebrew
brew install ffmpeg

# Install on Windows via winget
winget install ffmpeg

# Convert M4V to AVI using Xvid (best legacy compatibility)
ffmpeg -i input.m4v -c:v libxvid -q:v 3 -c:a mp3 -b:a 192k output.avi

# Convert M4V to AVI using H.264 (better quality)
ffmpeg -i input.m4v -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -c:a mp3 -b:a 192k output.avi

# High quality, slower encode — minimize visible compression
ffmpeg -i input.m4v -c:v libxvid -q:v 2 -c:a mp3 -b:a 320k output.avi

Xvid -q:v ranges from 1 (best) to 31 (worst). Values 2–4 are visually lossless for most content. Use mp3 audio since AAC inside AVI has limited player support.

HandBrake (GUI — quality-focused encoding)

Free, Windows / Mac / Linux

HandBrake does not output AVI natively — its containers are MP4 and MKV. To produce AVI from M4V via HandBrake, use HandBrake to convert to MKV first, then use FFmpeg for a fast container rewrap to AVI:

# Step 2: rewrap HandBrake MKV output to AVI (no quality loss if codec is compatible)
ffmpeg -i handbrake_output.mkv -c:v copy -c:a mp3 output.avi

Download and open HandBrake from handbrake.fr.
Drag your M4V file onto the HandBrake window to load it as source.
In the Summary tab, set Format to MKV.
Choose a preset — Fast 1080p30 works for most M4V files.
In the Video tab, set encoder to H.264 (x264) and RF to 20.
In the Audio tab, set the encoder to MP3 for AVI compatibility.
Click Start Encode, then run the FFmpeg rewrap command above.

VLC Media Player (GUI — no command line)