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Do you have trouble playing AVI files on your Mac computer? AVI files are a popular video format, but they may not always be compatible with Quicktime, the default media player on Mac. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t play AVI files on your Mac. In this blog post, we’ll show you several methods that you can use to play AVI files on your Mac quickly and easily.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Play AVI Files on Mac Quicktime?
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a popular video format that is widely used for storing high-quality video content. It is a flexible format that is compatible with multiple platforms and players. However, Mac Quicktime doesn’t support playing AVI files, which is a cause of inconvenience for some Mac users, especially when they have lots of AVI files saved on their computer or they have AVI files that they need to watch. Playing AVI files on Mac Quicktime can provide convenience to users, allowing them to view their videos on a default player, without needing to use third-party software.
Method 1: Via Third-Party Video Players
Using third-party video players is one of the most common ways to play AVI files on Mac Quicktime. VLC media player is a great option for this purpose, as it supports a wide range of file formats, including AVI. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to play AVI files using VLC media player:
1. Download and install VLC media player on your Macintosh.
2. Once installed, open VLC media player and click on "File" located in the menu bar.
3. After that, select "Open File" from the dropdown list or simply press Ctrl+O.
4. From here, you can navigate to the location where you have saved your AVI file and select it.
5. Click "Open" to start playing the video.
Pros:
– VLC media player is free to download and use, and it supports a wide range of file formats.
– It is a lightweight and fast video player, which provides excellent performance and playback quality.
Cons:
– VLC media player has a relatively low user interface, which may not be as aesthetic as other media players.
– Sometimes, VLC media player may get stuck or crashes while playing high-quality videos.
Method 2: Via Online Converters
If you don’t want to download a third-party video player, then you can use online file converters to convert your AVI file to a format that is compatible with Quicktime. There are many online video converters available on the internet, but we recommend using CloudConvert for this purpose. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to use CloudConvert to convert AVI files to a quick time compatible format:
1. Open CloudConvert on your web browser and select "Select Files".
2. From here, select the AVI file that you want to convert.
3. Next, select the target format you want to convert your AVI file to, in this case, MPEG-4.
4. Then, click on the "Convert" button.
5. You can then download the converted file to your Mac.
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Pros:
– Using online converters is relatively simple and doesn’t usually require any prior experience.
– CloudConvert supports a wide range of formats, so it can convert AVI files to many different formats.
Cons:
– Converting files online may take some time and require a substantial internet connection to proceed without errors.
– The quality of the converted file may vary, depending on the online file converter you’ve chosen.
Method 3: Convert AVI to Quicktime via QuickTime Pro
Quicktime Pro is another great way you can use to convert AVI videos to Quicktime format. Here are the step-by-step instructions you should follow:
1. Open Quicktime Pro on your Macintosh by navigating to Quicktime Player > Preferences and selecting "Playback" and then "Upgrade to Quicktime Pro".
2. Next, select "File" located in the menu bar and select "Export" from the dropdown list.
3. From here, select "Movie to QuickTime Movie" from the Export dropdown list.
4. Under the "Settings," choose "Export: "Movie to QuickTime Movie" to convert to MOV format.
5. You can edit the movie options, such as quality and sound, if necessary.
6. After that, click on the "Save" button to proceed with the process.
Pros:
– Quicktime Pro offers excellent customization options and control over the resulting Quicktime video.
– It is easy to use and available on Macintosh.
Cons:
– Quicktime Pro is not free and requires payment for a one-time license key.
– The application is not regularly updated, which may lead to bugs or issues.
What to Do If You Can’t Play AVI Files on Mac Quicktime?
If you’re having trouble playing AVI files on Quicktime, there are several things you can do to fix the issue. Here are some of the possible fixes you can try:
1. Install Quicktime plugin or use a compatible third-party media player.
2. Install third-party video codecs that enable playback of AVI files in Quicktime.
3. Convert the AVI file to a format that is supported by Quicktime or convert it using other methods described in this article.
4. Ensure that all the video codecs and components of Quicktime are up to date and properly installed.
Bonus Tip
If you want to play online videos directly on your Quicktime Player without having to download them first, you can use the "Open URL in New Player Window" option in Quicktime Player. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to do that:
1. Open Quicktime Player and select "File" located in the menu bar.
2. Click "Open URL" and enter the URL of the online video you want to play.
3. Press enter, and Quicktime Player will open and start streaming the video.
5 FAQs
Q1: Why Can’t Mac Quicktime Play AVI files?
A: Mac Quicktime is designed mainly to support MOV, MP4, and M4V formats, which may not include the necessary codec to play AVI files.
Q2: Do I have to pay to download and use a third-party video player?
A: No. There are several free and open-source third-party video players available for Mac and other platforms that you can download and use for free.
Q3: Can I rely on online file converters to convert AVI files to Quicktime format?
A: Yes, but you need to be careful when using online converters to convert your files as many online converters may contain malware, spyware, or other malicious programs. It’s recommended to use a trusted online converter.
Q4: Is Quicktime Pro a good option for converting AVI to Quicktime format?
A: Yes, Quicktime Pro offers a wide range of options and control over the resulting Quicktime video. However, it requires payment for a one-time license key.
Q5: Can I use Quicktime to convert other file formats to Quicktime format?
A: Yes, Quicktime Player also offers tools to convert other formats like MPG, MPEG, MOV, to Quicktime format.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the most effective methods for playing AVI files on Mac Quicktime. As you have seen, you may use third-party video players, online converters, or Quicktime Pro to handle AVI files. We recommend using third-party video players such as VLC media player as it’s free and fast. If you want to convert AVI to Quicktime format genuinely, then Quicktime Pro is a perfect tool for you. Ultimately, whichever method you choose depends on your preferences and requirements.