AVI File Extension

Audio Video Interleave Format

File Type avi
Developer Microsoft
Popularity
4.3 (40 votes)
Application Adobe Premiere Pro
Category Video Files
Format Binary

What is a AVI file?

The AVI extension is related to Audio Video Interleave Format and is classified in the Video Files category, which contains 445 files.

The Audio Video Interleave Format (AVI) was created by Microsoft, a company that developed file format and produced 242 programs for their use.

AVI files are supported by Windows, Mac OS and Linux. If you need to play a AVI file, you can use one of 81 programs, such as VLC media player, Plex Media Server and Zoom Player.

MIME types

image/avi
video/msvideo
video/x-msvideo
audio/avi
application/x-troff-msvideo
video/avi
video/xmpg2
audio/aiff

File Signature

HEX code: 52 49 46 46. ASCII code: RIFF.

Windows

Linux

How to open a AVI file?

If you’re having difficulty opening a AVI file, it is often due to not having the correct software. To solve the problem, choose a compatible program from the list. Then follow the link to the official developer site, download the software, and install it on your device.

VLC media player, Plex Media Server and Zoom Player stand out as the preferred programs to manage AVI files effectively. To install the current version of Adobe Premiere Pro, go directly to the official Adobe website. The universal package for all operating systems is available there.

Once setup is done, your operating system should assign Adobe Premiere Pro as the default app for AVI files.

Set Adobe Premiere Pro as the default AVI application

Change the default app that opens a file on Mac

Right-click or use Control + Left-click on the desired AVI file to open a menu where you can choose from multiple actions;
Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
Scroll down to the bottom of the window, where you will find the "Enable" menu. Default, "Recommended Programs" will be selected;
In this menu, choose "All Programs" and navigate to Adobe Premiere Pro. Check the box next to "Always open in app" to make it the default program.

Set default programs for Windows

Start by right-clicking on your AVI file, then select "Open With" and continue by clicking "Choose another app" from the options provided;
From the options listed in the pop-up window, specifically choose Adobe Premiere Pro as the application to handle your AVI file;
Be sure to check the "Always use this app" checkbox and click "OK" to save your preference.

Convert files to and from AVI

For difficult AVI files, try converting them to formats like MOV, MPG, MPEG, WAV, GIF or similar formats to improve usability.

Be aware that converting a AVI file may reduce some features, but you can usually revert it to the original format.

MediaCoder, iSkysoft Video Converter and MPEG Streamclip are offline tools that convert AVI files to other formats seamlessly and without quality loss.

Convert AVI to other file formats

Converting Files to AVI Format

Troubleshooting guide for AVI file complications

If you encounter issues with AVI files, don’t worry—most can be fixed with minor software adjustments. Refer to the troubleshooting tips below.

What are the methods to detect if my AVI file has been corrupted?

AVI video files that have become corrupted may display one or more of the following symptoms:

Unexplained AVI file size inflation;
Adobe Premiere Pro or other programs stop responding or crash when trying to handle the file;
When opening the file, errors occur or the inability to access its contents;
While working with the file, error alerts are encountered;
The file exhibits poor performance during editing operations in AVS Video Editor;

Why does Adobe Premiere Pro crash or shut down frequently?

Insufficient software updates can contribute to Adobe Premiere Pro crash. To avoid this, make sure that you have installed the latest updates for Adobe products.

Restarting your computer is a crucial troubleshooting measure that can alleviate numerous common problems. Therefore, it is advisable to restart your computer before modifying any settings related to the software.

Is there any specific software or utility that can help repair a damaged AVI file?

Open the damaged AVI file in a recovery program and select the "Repair" menu item to start the repair operation. Allow the recovery process to complete, which will automatically repair the damaged video files.

How to edit a AVI file?

To make changes to AVI files, you need specialized software that allows both opening and editing the video files. Online AVI editors offer fewer capabilities than applications optimized for Audio Video Interleave Format.

Best AVI Editor Software in 2026

Following these criteria, we have put together a list of recommended AVI editors.

AVI Editor Software	Developer	Platforms	Overall Rating
AVS Video Editor	OMT	Windows	4.8 out of 5 (42 reviews)
PowerDirector	CyberLink	Windows	4.6 out of 5 (39 reviews)
VirtualDub	Avery Lee	Windows	4.6 out of 5 (39 reviews)
Adobe Premiere Pro	Adobe	Windows, Mac OS	4.5 out of 5 (42 reviews)
Movavi VideoSuite Personal	Movavi	Windows	4.5 out of 5 (43 reviews)
ApowerEdit	Apowersoft	Windows	4.4 out of 5 (43 reviews)
Video Edit Magic	DeskShare	Windows	4.3 out of 5 (38 reviews)