Play AVI on Mac
Free TrialFree Trial
> Video Solution > Play AVI on Mac

How to Play AVI with QuickTime on Mac (Mountain Lion included)

How to play AVI on Mac or on Mac default player (QuickTime)? Have troubles playing AVI in QuickTime because of codec issues? Usually, QuickTime will say avi not working. The problem is, QuickTime will only play AVI files that have audio and video compressed by a codec QuickTime recognizes. If that doesn't describe your file, you won't be able to play AVI smoothly on QuickTime. In fact, many Mac users, who upgraded their Macs to Lion or Mountain Lion, have figured out that QuickTime X can't even recognize their AVI videos which used to play smoothly in previous versions. What to do?

Since AVI is one of the most widely used video formats period, it's depressing when you can't play AVI on Mac. Is there any easy way to fix this problem? Any free AVI player for Mac? Definitely! Below are three seperate solutions to open AVI files on Mac: Perian, VLC Player, Video Converter for Mac. All are tested and proven. Find the one that fits you best.

Solution 1. Convert AVI file to Mac compatible format .MOV for playback

iSkysoft video converter for MacThis solution enables you to play AVI on QuickTime (Mac default player) without any trouble, no componet and additioanl media player required. You can use Video Converter for Mac, which helps you easily and quickly convert AVI to QuickTime compatible formats like MOV, MP4 and M4V. After that, you can not only play AVI on QuickTime smoothly, but also transfer the files to your iPhone, iPod or iPad for playback and so on. This AVI converter is fully compatible with Mac OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, and Snow Leopard.

Download, install, and run the program.

Step 1: Drag and drop the AVI files to the program. (There are many editing functions like Trim, Adjust, Rotate, Crop, Merge, Watermark etc you can use).

Step 2: Set the output video format. Choose "MOV" as an output format.

Step 3: Click "Convert" button to start the process.

playing avi on mac

Note: The solution 2 and 3 only enable you to play your AVI on Mac, i.e, you are unable to add the AVI files to your iTunes library for orgnization or sync. So if you want to use your AVI files in QuickTime, iMovie, iTunes and more, solution 1 (converting AVI) is highly recommended.

Now watch the video tutorial of iSkysoft Video Converter for Mac:

Solution 2. Get Mac Perian—QuickTime Component

PerianPerian, one of the players for AVI files, is a free QuickTime component which adds native support for a good number of popular video formats. The current version (1.2.3) of Mac Perian is compatible with Snow Leopard and it works for most of the AVI videos. You can download Perian for Mac here. Note that Perian 

Note: The latest version 1.2.3 of Perian doesn't work on Mac OS X Mountain Lion because Perian requires installation of quicktime 7, which doesnt exist for Mountain Lion. It also doesn't work on Mac OS X Lion. So if you have a Mac running Mac OS X 10.7, say, Lion, you have to downgrade the previous version, say 1.2.2. The version of 1.2.3 of Perian does not support QuickTime 10 in Lion and  fails to fix the loss of audio after one second in xvid files with ac3. So if you have a Mac with Lion or Mountain Lion, converting video to QuickTime is highly recommended.

Solution 3. Switch to Other Media Players

VLC player Media player for Mac OS X Snow LeopardVLC player, another great mac AVI player, is a universal media player and in most cases it works like a charm under Mac. If your operating system is Snow Leopard or Lion, VLC Mac player would be a good choice. But to use the media player,  you need to install Front Row. And what you should know is that you can only play your files on Mac, that's to say, you can't import your AVI into iMovie for editing, add AVI to iTunes library for sync edc. If you wanna do more with your AVI files additional to the AVI playback,  an AVI to QuickTime Mac conversion is the final solution.

 

  • Nancy  2013-05-11 15:17
    Ahhh, used MPlayerX. Worked like a charm.
  • Yo mama  2013-04-30 23:49
    Poop
  • Jiangtai  2013-03-04 15:52
    Try MplayX, it can run avi directly
  • John Smith  2013-01-01 00:47
    MPlayerX was the easiest thing. Thanks!
  • Cami  2012-11-22 18:52
    The VLC player works perfectly with Mountain Lion. Thank you for your recommendations. They helped me a lot.
  • steph  2012-10-31 03:44
    Merciiiiiiiiii
  • xuarinatul  2012-09-11 18:54
    Your tutorial “How to play AVI with QuickTime on Mac” is one of the best you have ever written.
  • FRUNTAS101  2012-09-11 18:53
    You really are a genius! Your tutorials are short and concise.
  • euripide09  2012-09-11 18:53
    Thank you very much for showing us it isn’t necessary to search for your videos to have a QuickTime format and now we can convert the AVI files ourselves.
  • asomare  2012-09-11 18:52
    I tried the second solution “switching to other media players” but honestly I don’t like the way VLC player works.
  • hutinus  2012-09-11 18:52
    Thank you for this information, I always had problems playing AVI files on QuickTime.
  • LauraPOP  2012-08-11 04:24
    Very powerful video converter, simply the best. It has additional useful function. The interface is friendly and easy-to-use. Plus this tutorial..
  • MartisIulia  2012-08-10 21:16
    you will fall in love with this software after using it. and you will spend much time looking at films. nice tutorial.
  • RockyDEE  2012-08-10 13:27
    It is a good tutorial. Several years ago, I did not know what that codec. Now I know, but did not know that there are three solutions to play avi. Last one I find the easiest.
  • E_jurca  2012-08-10 06:40
    I also used other software and now that I found it, use it daily. It is very good, fast and efficient.
  • Darian  2012-08-09 21:15
    Solution 3 it seems to me best. It is the fastest and most reliable! Never wrong. Very good product!
  • twitter-109197140  2012-08-04 16:08
    This is so much easier than any thing else i have tried. Plus it's FREE! Thanks!
  • Killacali_123  2012-07-19 06:52
    Cool. But you can also just download MPlayerX from the app store. Plays AVI files perfectly!
  • Macy  2012-07-12 03:41
    thank you
  • Allen  2012-07-06 16:11
    I searched many tutorials that explain in more detail, and until you have not found anywhere
  • Vbnbnm91  2012-07-03 12:56
    I read the tutorial and I did the same and I succeeded in minutes
  • Ghdsdf35  2012-07-03 12:56
    Useful information
  • Dfgasd50  2012-07-03 12:55
    Thanks for the information I started to think that I will never be able to see the movies in AVI format on QuickTime
  • Cvbmju  2012-07-03 12:55
    I have the same version and I have not encountered any problems
  • Mynaughtyemail80  2012-07-01 13:17
    Now I understand why I kept crashing every time I tried to see one movie in QuickTime.
  • Segundoprimo  2012-07-01 13:16
    I am not skilled in the PC, but this tutorial helped me a lot. Thanks
  • mengfong008  2012-06-27 09:49
    Thanks for this and the update on Perian 1.2.3 not playing properly on Lion. Thank goodness for VLC.
  • Pablobianco  2012-06-27 05:48
    Super, thanks for this really great article! / Paul
  • Guy with no video  2012-06-19 16:13
    Thank you for the detailed and up to date info. Perian solved my AVI file issues where audio would play but not video.
  • Chathort  2012-06-17 03:54
    thanks for very informative information and give me choices to choose from :)
  • Employee  2012-05-28 03:44
    What product are you using? If it's iSkysoft Video Converter, the converted video will be added to iTunes automatically so you can just plug in your iPad and sync with iTunes library. Done.
  • Gillian E Kelly  2012-05-25 12:45
    I can watch my .avi file on my iMac but I can't transfer it onto iTunes ... I want to put it onto my iPad!!!
  • Jgrosse  2012-05-19 03:12
    I read this, followed and had the movie playing in 5 minutes. Very helpful!
  • Orapinjeam  2012-05-18 05:49
    Yea all very well but I can't seem to maximize the screen, maybe only the full version allows this?
  • Relax101  2012-04-24 23:21
    Thanks for the advice. Will explore options
  • facebook-1522695515  2012-04-24 01:09
    See my recent post You can get it to work.
  • facebook-1522695515  2012-04-24 01:05
    Mac Perian works just fine in Lion. It is QuickTime 10 that is the problem. Fortunately, QT 7.6.6 works great in both Snow Leopard and Lion. If you are an AV/Audio pro who paid $29.95, QT 7.6.6 allows you to use all the functionality in the Pro version (it's missing in QuickTime 10). You do need QT 10 in OS 10.6 and 10.7 but not for this purpose. Here's how to do it: 1. Before you begin, look in your Applications Folder for QuickTime 7.7 (the last version for OS 10.5.x) and move to the Trash. Leave QT 10 alone. If you find QT 7.6.6, move it to the Utilities Folder and go to Step 4. 2. Now look in your Applications/Utilities folder and see if QT 7.6.6 is installed. If so, skip to Step 4: 3. Find a copy of QuickTime 7.6.6. It is in the Extras folder for both the SL and Lion installs. You can also download it free from Apple. Run the installer - it will default to the Utilities folder - Do Not Move it to Applications (this is important). If you have a QT 5/6 Pro Key for the Mac, open the application and install your key by going to Registration. 4. Download Perion 1.2.3 from Solution 1 above and run the installer. It will ask if you want to automatically check for updates - you do not want to check this box as it has an annoying pop-up. If you accidentally allow this function, you can turn it off later in the Preference Pane. You can check for updates manually in that same Perian Preference Pane in System Preferences. 5. After you install the plugin, here is how to play AVI files automatically: 6. Right-click on any file ending in .avi. Scroll to Get Info then release. A pop-up window will appear. 7. Look for Open with… and click on the scroll menu. 8. Release on the QuickTime 7 Player.app - the QuickTime Player.app is for QT 10 - you do not want to chose this. 9. Right below, click on Change All… A pop-up will ask if you are certain. Click OK. Now, all .AVI files should open automatically in QT 7.6.6 just by double-clicking on them. Had I not needed QT Pro for my work, I probably would not have figured this out. My Canon camera takes movies in .avi and it was frustrating that I couldn't view them in Lion. You do not need QT Pro for .avi viewing of course, just QT 7.6.6.
  • Kylefl0  2012-04-21 04:00
    thanks for the information!! big help! :)
  • Yomero  2012-03-28 19:26
    Thanks For sharing good information
  • Gee5555  2012-02-15 01:15
    As what ereklj said, try the solution 3, it works on my MacBook Air (Lion)
  • Gnc5066  2012-02-14 21:38
    i have 10.7.3, perian, vlc and still doesn't work for me :/
  • ereklj  2012-02-13 01:29
    Try the solution 3 then :)
  • Dangarciausa  2012-02-11 11:31
    I have 10.6.8 system and the vlc would not work for me
  • Ashliy  2012-02-09 20:55
    plex worked just fine with mac 10.7. 3 Thanks plex :)
  • twitter-228378697  2012-01-29 01:09
    Perian's great! Thanks a lot. :)
  • ManiacMidget  2012-01-26 17:32
    Perian seems to work great! Thank you so much, this has helped me a lot. I was ready to throw my sister's Mac out the window out of frustration but now it's all good.
  • Fr0nik  2012-01-14 08:25
    Thank you very much! Thats a good point!
  • M W  2011-12-26 22:56
    restart your computer. Mine only worked after restarting.
  • iSkysoft Employee  2011-12-21 08:31
    Hi, 1. Flip4Mac is a QuickTime component for playing WMV, so you can't use it to play AVI; 2. As the article has mentioned, The latest version 1.2.3 of Perian doesn't work on Mac OS X Lion. So if you have a Mac running Mac OS X 10.7, say, Lion, you have to downgrade the previous version, say 1.2.2. Or you can use the Video Converter for Mac to convert AVI to QuickTime MOV or other compatible formats: http://www.iskysoft.com/video-converter-mac.html 3. And it may due to a tool came with DivX you have installed. If you still wanna use Perian, you have to uninstall DivX -> restart -> uninstall Perian -> restart -> reinstall Perian ->If you were asked to replace the existing one in system preference, choose Yes -> restart, then it's possible for you to play AVI via QuickTime.
  • Cdennie  2011-12-21 04:04
    I have downloaded Flip4Mac, Perian, VLC and none of these get my AVI files to work on Lion. I am extremely frustrated and feel that I should never have downloaded Lion for Mac. Any other suggestions?
Secured Shopping
Customer Service
30 Days Money Back
Satisfied Customers