How to Play AVI Files on Apple TV?

Apple TV, like many Apple products, has a limited range of video formats it supports natively, and it doesn't like AVI format.

Interestingly, Apple TV's 2nd and 3rd generations did offer limited support for AVI files. According to Apple's official Tech Specs, these devices could play AVI files under very specific conditions:

• Video: Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) video up to 35 Mbps
• Resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels
• Frame rate: 30 fps
• Audio: ulaw, PCM stereo audio

These stringent requirements meant that very few AVI files could be played natively on these Apple TV models. And guess what? Recognizing the limited utility of this feature, Apple removed AVI support entirely from Apple TV HD (4th generation), Apple TV 4K, and subsequent generations.

Therefore, alternative methods must be employed to play AVI files on newer Apple TV models. Let's dive into some workarounds.

The most straightforward approach to playing AVI files on Apple TV is to convert them to a compatible format. All generations of Apple TV offer native support for .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats. By converting your AVI files to one of these formats, you can ensure smooth playback on your Apple TV.

One popular tool for this conversion process is WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro. It stands out for its user-friendly interface, ease of use, and fast conversion speed.

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• DownloadDownload, install, and launch the freeware on your PC.
• Open the "Converter" module and add your AVI files.
• Expand the full list of 500+ presets. Go to the "Apple" category and choose the appropriate Apple TV profile.
• Pick an output folder and click "Run" to start the conversion process.

After conversion, your files will be in a format that can be easily played on your Apple TV. It works for all video formats, ensuring you won't run into any compatibility issues.

This method is particularly useful for those who want to create a library of Apple TV-compatible files for repeated viewing.

If you have an iOS device or a Mac, AirPlay Mirroring is a fantastic way to stream AVI files to your Apple TV without converting them. This method uses your Apple device to mirror its display on your Apple TV. Here's how to do it:

For iOS devices:

• Ensure your iOS device and Apple TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom on older iOS versions).
• Tap "Screen Mirroring".
• Select your Apple TV from the list of available devices.
• Play your AVI file using a compatible media player app on your iOS device.

For Mac:

• Make sure your Mac and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
• For Big Sur or later, click the "Control Center" icon in the menu bar, click "Screen Mirroring", and select your Apple TV from the list.
• For Catalina or earlier, Click "AirPlay" icon in the menu bar, then choose your Apple TV from the list.
• Play your AVI file using a media player application on your Mac.

This method is particularly useful for occasional viewing or when you don't want to convert your entire AVI library.

Another effective solution to play AVI files on Apple TV is to use a third-party media player app. Two popular options are VLC and Infuse, both of which offer robust support for various file formats, including AVI.

VLC for Apple TV:

• On your Apple TV, go to the App Store and search for "VLC".
• Download and install the VLC app.
• Use VLC's network streaming feature to access AVI files stored on your local network.

Infuse for Apple TV:

• Search for "Infuse" in the Apple TV App Store.
• Install the Infuse app.
• Infuse can automatically detect media servers on your network, or you can manually add network shares.

Both two apps excel at playing a wide range of video formats directly without conversion. They also offer additional features like subtitle support and advanced playback controls.

A: No, Apple TV does not natively support AVI files except for some pretty strict conditions in the 2nd and 3rd generation models.

A: The best formats are .m4v, .mp4, and .mov using H.264 and AAC encoding, as these are natively supported by all generations of Apple TV.

A: Unfortunately, it only works on Windows. Instead, you can use HandBrake as an alternative on Mac.

A: No, Apple TV does not have USB ports for media playback, and it primarily supports streaming content via the internet or from other devices using AirPlay.

A: Yes, Plex is another excellent option for streaming AVI files to Apple TV. Plex can transcode your AVI files into a compatible format on-the-fly, which means you don't need to convert your files manually.