Can't Play AVI Videos on Roku? Try the Free Solution Here!

Updated on Dec 25, 2023

If you have some AVI files and hope to play them on Roku, you will disappointedly find that your Roku Media Player channel can't recognize the file when you plug in the external USB drive. So what should we do if we want to play AVI videos on Roku?

—— Transcoding the unrecognized AVI files to a Roku-compatible format is a good option for fixing the playback failure on Roku. Get this free video transcoder here and keep reading to solve the AVI playback issue on Roku now!

https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/download/hd-video-converter.exe hd-video-converter.exe

Does Roku Support AVI Video Playback?

Q: I am trying to set up a simple media movie box for my daughter and granddaughters. I have a Roku 3 and a large (2GB) hard drive full of AVI files (many 10 minute cartoons). However, Roku Media Player seems not to display the AVI files for playback. does Roku play AVI? How can I play AVI files on Roku?

To play a video on Roku, the media file formats must be supported in the Roku Media Player channel. However, according to the official website of Roku, AVI is not on its supported format list, although it is a traditional container format. Additionally, Roku was initially designed as an internet streaming device, not a local streamer, so I guess its limited support for video formats is somewhat reasonable.

Then you need to perform a format transcoding process to make your AVI video play smoothly on Roku. Read the following to learn the best free video transcoder and convert AVI to other Roku-supported formats now!

Related Discussions: Roku AV1 Support | Roku MKV| Roku MP4 Playback Issue

How to Convert AVI to Roku Supported Formats?

To convert AVI to a Roku-supported format, you can try WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory. It is a 100% free, clean, and powerful video transcoding app that can convert AVI video files without quality loss or further compatibility issues, making you play AVI files on Roku without any problems! With excellent input format support, you can convert other videos to match various specs of all kinds of platforms, including Roku, of course. It is easy to use and only takes a few simple clicks to finish the conversion process.

Free downloadFree download this converter and follow the tutorial below, you will be soon free from the format compatibility issues!

Detailed Steps to Convert AVI to Roku-Supported Format

Step 1. Load AVI Videos into the Program

Launch the program after installation and open Converter, load the AVI files into the program by click the “Add Files” button. Alternatively, just drag AVI files into the program. Then define the destination path at the “Output folder” box underneath for output files.

Step 2. Convert AVI Files to Roku-friendly Formats

For playing AVI on Roku properly, converting AVI to MP4 is a recommended move.

Just click on the output format section on the right side. Select the ready-made "MP4" profile from “Video” category will convert your AVI videos to H.264/AAC MP4 profile, which are perfectly supported by Roku. At last, hit “Run” button to start the conversion.

* When the conversion is finished, you can transfer the converted videos to a USB drive and play movies on Roku from your USB drive without issue.

How to Play Converted Movies on Roku from a USB Drive

1. Install the Roku Media Player channel through the Channel Store on Roku or via Roku's website.

2. Connect the USB drive to Roku's USB port.

3. Launch the Roku Media Player channel and select Videos

4. Choose the drive you plugged into Roku.

5. Navigate to the folder that has the video file you want to watch. Click OK to open the folder.

6. Select the video to watch and click Play on the remote.

What’s more…

That’s all I want to share with you about how to play AVI on Roku without issue. Hope you can play your AVI video files on Roku successfully. If you encounters other video playback issues on Roku, you can also give WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory a try.