Apple apps such as QuickTime Player, Photos, and Keynote work with many kinds of audio and video formats. Some apps prefer specific formats, but QuickTime movie files (.mov), most MPEG files (.mp4, .m4v, .m4a, .mp3, .mpg), some AVI and WAV files, and many other formats usually work in most apps without additional software.

Older or specialized media formats might not work in your app, because the format requires software designed to support it. If that happens, your app won't open the file or won't play back its audio or video.

How to search for an app that works with your file

You might already have an app that supports the format of your file. If you don't know which of your installed apps to try, your Mac might be able to suggest one:

1. Control-click (or right-click) the file in the Finder.
2. From the shortcut menu that opens, choose Open With. You should see a submenu listing all of the other installed apps that your Mac thinks might be able to open the file.

If none of your installed apps can open the file, search the Internet or Mac App Store for apps that can play or convert the file:

• Include the name of the media format in your search. To find the format, select the file and press Command-I to open an Info window. The format might appear after the label Kind, such as ”Kind: Matroska Video File.”
• Include the filename extension in your search. The extension is the letters shown at the end of the file's name, such as .avi,.wmv, or .mkv.

• Press Windows+R, this will guide you to the Run option. In the search bar below, type devmgmt.msc and click on OK. On the device manager page, click on Display adapters and choose the Graphics card on your PC. Right-click on Update Driver option. In most of the cases, you can fix the Windows – Cannot play the AVI file.
• The method to encode AVI to Premiere Elements on Mac is the same. All that you should take care is to download the right version according to your situation. Import AVI files to the program. After the program installed you will come to an impressive interface. Now add your AVI video files.
• Now let's start the process to edit AVI in iMovie with Leawo Video Converter for Mac. Step 1: Download Leawo Video Converter for Mac online and install it on your Mac computer. Step 2: Double-click on the icon to launch the AVI converter for Mac and add source AVI video files into this program. AVI files can be dragged directly onto the home area.
• Copy link to clipboard. Premiere Pro CC 2018 Version 12.1.0 won’t import DV AVI files with MacBook Pro any more. Hi – I’ve just updated Premiere 2018 and I can no longer import DV AVI files. The files just appear greyed out. MOV files are fine though. Last week prior to the update the AVI files were importing without a problem!!

Learn more

Mac Cannot Open AVI File. AVI stands for Audio Video Interleave is the first media format that was used to store audio, video files launched by Microsoft. Basically, an AVI file contains data container comprising audio and video files that help to synchronize them during playback time.

• QuickTime Player (version 10.0 and later) in OS X Mavericks through macOS Mojave converts legacy media files that use certain older or third-party compression formats.
• Learn about incompatible media in Final Cut Pro and iMovie.

AVI, short for Audio Video Interleave, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft to store audio and video using a variety of codecs, like DivX and XviD. If you are using a Windows computer, you can double-click the AVI file and open it on Windows Media Player. If you are using macOS, things are not easy because the default QuickTime player doesn’t support AVI format.

So, still want to play AVI files on Mac? Well, you can convert the unsupported AVI file to MP4, MOV, M4V that are compatible with QuickTime Player. Well, you can also install a powerful AVI Player on your MacBook for smooth playback.

Part 1. How to Play AVI on Mac with QuickTime Plug-in

If AVI files failed to play on Mac, you can get a QuickTime plug-in installed on your Mac. Perian is a free and open source QuickTime component that support any media format like AVI, FLV, MKV. It is easy to install and works instantly once it’s set up. One disadvantage of Perian is that it doesn’t work with QuickTime 10 or more. Nor will be under development.

Part 2. How to Convert AVI to Mac Supported Format

As we know, QuickTime doesn’t support playing AVI files. If you want to play AVI files on your MacBook, you can use the ultimate method to convert AVI to QuickTime Player supported format. Apeaksoft Video Converter Ultimate comes in handy when you want to convert AVI files. It is a versatile video converter for Mac, which you can adjust video/audio codec, enhance video, compress AVI video files , or enhance video quality in an all-round way.

4,000,000+ Downloads

Convert AVI to MP4, MOV, M4V and more for playing on Mac.

Tweak the frame rate, bitrate, sample rate, audio codec, and more settings.

Provide 4 different methods to enhance video quality and reduce noise.

Edit videos, add watermark, apply video filters, and compress the AVI video.

Step 1Install AVI Converter for Mac

After downloading this AVI Converter for Mac, install and launch the program. Click Add File at the top side to import the AVI video to the program.

Step 2 Choose output format

Click and open the drop-down arrow next to Profile, go to a certain catalog and select your preferred resolution from the list. For playing the AVI file in QuickTime Player on Mac, choose MOV, MP4 or M4V as you like.

Step 3Edit AVI file

Click the Edit menu to edit the AVI file with these editing features. You can rotate the AVI file, add 3D effect, crop AVI file, add effects, enhance AVI file and add watermark to it.

Step 4Convert and play AVI on Mac

Make sure you have chosen an output folder in the Destination area at the bottom. Click Convert button at the bottom right to start converting AVI file. After a while, you can open the converted AVI file in QuickTime Player on your Mac.

Opening Avi Files On Mac Laptop

If you’ve ever wanted to play AVI files on Mac, without installing other desktop software, Apeaksoft Free Online Video Converter is an online converter to convert and play AVI file on Mac and Windows computer.

Part 3. How to Play AVI Files with Best AVI Player for Mac

Opening Avi Files On Mac Os

Another convenient way you can try is to play AVI files with an AVI player for Mac. Apeaksoft Blu-ray Player is the top choice for many users. Besides playing AVI files, it can also play common video and audio formats like MP4, M4V, TS, MTS, MXF, WMV, MKV, AVI, MP3. What’s more, this AVI player for Mac also plays Blu-ray/DVD disc, folder or ISO file on macOS Big Sur/Catalina.

FAQs of Playing AVI Files on Mac

1. What is An AVI File Format?

AVI is a multimedia container format, containing both audio and video data. AVI format has great video fidelity and compression capability. Due to the availability of a large number of codecs, it is easy to obtain the compression ratios required for the AVI format.

2. Why do AVI files not play on Mac?

If the AVI file doesn’t come with the right codecs, you might not play AVI files on Mac. Also you need to check out if the AVI files are corrupted. If you have corrupted AVI files, you still cannot play AVI on Mac.

3. How can I convert AVI to MP4 on Mac?

Playing Avi Files On Macbook Air

With Apeaksoft Video Converter Ultimate, you can convert AVI to MP4 on Mac with ease. Click Add File to load the AVI file to the program. Select MP4 from the drop-down button next to Profile, and click Convert button to convert AVI to MP4 on Mac.

Conclusion

After reading this article, playing AVI files on Mac tends to be easier. You can get the right AVI codec, an AVI player or an AVI converter for Mac. Apeaksoft Video Converter Ultimate provides the ultimate solution to convert AVI to QuickTime supported format. Don’t hesitate and let us hear what you want to say.