video format

What is a .AVI file?

AVI is a long-standing Windows video container — broadly compatible but larger than modern formats.

Full name
Audio Video Interleave
Developed by
Microsoft
Released
1992
Extension
.avi
MIME type
video/x-msvideo
Transparency
No

How to open a AVI file

AVI plays in most desktop media players.

What AVI files are used for

Sharing & social

Clips that play on every platform.

Editing & post

Footage in production pipelines.

Streaming & web

Embedded and hosted playback.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Purpose-built for its nicheNo transparency support
Large file sizes

Need more than a conversion?

Remove the background from AVI images, upscale to 4K, or generate new visuals with SharkFoto AI.

Frequently asked questions

AVI is a long-standing Windows video container — broadly compatible but larger than modern formats.

AVI plays in most desktop media players.

AVI is optimised for its specific use rather than strictly lossless storage.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your AVI file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

No — AVI doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.