"Hi, I just downloaded an M4V video from iTunes on my Macbook and I seemed to have problem playing it with other video players other than iTunes or on my iPhone. Any idea how to fix that?"
This problem is very commonplace among people who like to download videos from iTunes. It's simple to get the problem solved. This guide would provide solutions as to how to convert M4V to AVI with M4V to AVI Converter Mac.

Part 1: Why Convert M4V to AVI

First of all, the reason why the file you downloaded from iTunes can't be played by iPhone is that it might be encoded. Apple uses M4V format to encode some of its videos on iTunes, and that's what is causing the problem in the first place. Maybe a little background information would help you know better about M4V format and why you need to convert it to a new format.

The M4V video format is a video container format developed by Apple and is very similar to the MP4 format. The most significant difference is that M4V files may be encoded and protected by DRM copy protection.

Apple uses M4V to encode video files like TV programs, movies and music videos in iTunes Store. The copyright of M4V files may be protected by using Apple's Fairplay DRM copy protection. To play a protected M4V file, the computer needs to be authorized (using iTunes) with the account that was used to purchase the video. However, unprotected M4V files may be recognized and played by other video players by changing the file extension from ".m4v" to ".mp4". Under QuickTime, M4V video with FairPlay attached to it is identified as AVC0 Media.

So if you want to play the encoded M4V file with other video converter or mobile devices, you need to convert it into a new format, like AVI, one of the most popular video formats in the world.

Part 2: How to Convert M4V to AVI with an M4V to AVI Converter Mac

To Convert M4V to AVI, you need a powerful M4V to AVI video converter, for example, the Leawo Video Converter for Mac. It's one of the most powerful video converter to convert M4V to AVI Mac users could find.

video-converter-mac

Video Converter for Mac 

☉ It Supports converting audio and video between almost all formats.

☉ It supports converting 2D video to 3D.

☉ Comes with built-in video editing features.

$29.95
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To convert M4V to AVI on Mac, please follow the instruction below:

Step 1:Add file to the software

To start the M4V to AVI conversion, first start the software. And then add source file to the software by two ways: dragging the file directly to the main interface of the software or click "Add Video" button.

Add file

Step 2:Choose format for the output file

To enter the format choosing panel, click the button on the left of "Convert" button on the top right hand side. A drop down menu shows up and click "Change" to enter the format selecting panel. Choose the format you want to convert the file into in "Format" or "Device" section.

Choose format

Step 3:Set parameters of the chosen format

If you want to further adjust the parameters of the format you've chosen, click the "Edit" button on the above-mentioned drop down menu to enter the parameter setting panel.

Parameter setting

Step 4:Set directory and start conversion

When you are done setting the parameters, click the "Convert" button and a sidebar comes out. Set the directory for the output file and then click "Convert" to start the conversion.

Start conversion

Note: As one of the most powerful M4V to AVI Converter Mac version Leawo Video Converter also comes with a lot of practical features like trimming, cropping, adding watermark and effect to videos and converting 2D videos to 3D, etc. other than just to convert M4V to AVI Mac

Customized settings for different devices

Supports converting videos for different devices with specifically customized profile.

Abundant video editing features

Supports video editing features like: trim, crop, add watermark and effect.

Built-in 2D to 3D converter with various 3D effect

Supports 3D effects like Red/Cyan, Red/Green, Red/Blue, Blue/Yellow, Interleaved, Side by side. And you can also adjust 3D depth value.

Part 3: How to Convert M4V to AVI with an Online Video Converter

Besides converting M4V to AVI with Leawo Video Converter, you can also go online and use online video converter to convert M4V to AVI Mac free

. There are a lot of great online video converting websites, and I would recommend convert-video-online.com, it's a practical Online M4V to AVI Converter Website with a straightforward interface.

Check out the content below to see how to use an Online Video Converter to convert M4V to AVI mac.

Step 1: Open Online Video Converter

Go to convert-video-online.com. Click “Open file” on the index to choose the source file from your computer.

Online video converter open file

Step 2: Set parameters

After the file is being uploaded, you can adjust the parameters by clicking the “Settings” button. And when you are done setting, click “Convert” button to begin the conversion.

Online video converter set parameters

Step 3: Download output file

After the conversion is finished, download the output file by clicking “Download“.

Download converted video

Note: Here we only discuss how to convert non-DRM protected M4V video to AVI files on your computer. If you want to convert DRM-protected M4V videos, please refer to how to convert iTunes M4V video to AVI for detail.

Part 4: Comparison Between M4V to AVI Converter Mac and online M4V to AVI Converter

Now that we know how to convert M4V to AVI Mac in two ways. But which one is better for users? To answer that question, we need to make a comparison between the two converters.

Features Leawo Video Converter convert-video-online.com
Software installation needed
Internet access needed
Supported input file formats Audio: FLAC, AAC, AC3, AIFF, AMR, M4A, MP2, MP3, OGG, RA, AU, WAV, WMA, MKA
Video: AVI, MP4, DAT, WEBM, RMVB, MPG, MPEG, VOB, MOV, M4V, QT,FLV, F4V, NSV, NUT, MKV, MTS/M2TS/TS/TP/TRP(AVCHD, H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2 HD), MOD, TOD, DV, WMV, ASF, 3GP, 3G2, DVR-MS
Video: MP4, AVI, MPEG, MOV, FLV, 3GP, WEBM, MKV, Apple, Android, Samsung, Blackberry, Sony, Nokia, WMV, GIF, etc.
Audio: MP3, WAV, iPhone Ringtone, M4A, FLAC, OGG, MP2, AMR, etc.
Supported output file formats Audio:FLAC, AAC, AC3, AIFF, AMR, M4A, MP2, MP3, OGG, RA, AU, WAV, WMA, MKA
Video:3D video formats: 3D MP4, 3D WMV, 3D AVI, 3D MKV, 3D YouTube video, etc.
HD video formats: HD MP4,HD AVI,HD MOV,HD TS,HD TRP,HD VOB, HD MPG,HD WMV,HD ASF
Common video formats: MP4-AVC, MP4-XviD, MP4-H.264, AVI, ASF, WEBM, MOV, RMVB, FLV, F4V, TS, DAT, WMV, MKV, XviD, DV, MPEG-1 NTSC, MPEG-1 PAL/SECAM, MPEG-2 NTSC, MPEG-2 PAL/SECAM, DVD-Video NTSC, DVD-Video PAL/SECAM, 3GP, 3G2, DPG
Video: MP4, AVI, MPEG, MOV, FLV, 3GP, WEBM, MKV, Apple, Android, Samsung, Blackberry, Sony, Nokia, WMV, GIF, etc.
Audio: MP3, WAV, iPhone Ringtone, M4A, FLAC, OGG, MP2, AMR, etc.
Merge Files into one
Built-in video player
Select external subtitle and internal audio track
Trim video
Crop video
Add watermark to video
Add effect to video
Adjustable parameters Video: Video codec, BitRate, FrameRate, Aspect Ratio, Resolution
Audio: Audio codec, BitRate, Sample Rate, Channel
Video: Video Quality: Resolution, Video Codec.
Audio Codec
2D to 3D conversion
Price 1Year:$29.95/LifeTime:$39.95 Free

Part 5: How to transfer M4V and MP4 Videos to iPhone

For Mac users, the most often used application for managing and transferring video files between PC and iPhone is iTunes. In fact, some people had a hard time familizing themselves with iTunes. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of practical apps that can be used to transfer data like video files to iPhone from Mac and are relatively easier to use, like the Leawo iTransfer, it's a practical application for transferring data between Mac and iPhone and managing files on iPhone.

Why Choose Leawo iTransfer

  • 1. It can transfer data among iOS devices, iTunes and Mac PC. with ease.
  • 2. It can back up the data in iPhone, iPad and iPod to Mac easily.
  • 3. It supports using iPhone, iPad and iPod as a flash drive.
  • 4. It can manage the playlists of iTunes library and iOS devices.

   

After you convert M4V to AVI Mac users can use iTransfer to transfer M4V and AVI files to iOS device. Please follow the steps below to use the iTransfer to transfer M4V and AVI video from Mac to iPhone

Step 1: Open Leawo iTransfer for Mac

Open Leawo iTransfer for Mac on your computer, Connect your iOS device to the computer. And the software would detect your device and show the libraries of your device on the sidebar on the left.

Open iTransfer

Step 2: Transfer M4V and AVI files from Mac to iOS device

Add M4V and AVI files to the iTransfer by dragging the file directly into the main interface of the software, or going to "File > Add > Add File/Add Folder" at the top left corner of the menu bar; or right-click the blank area on the interface and click "Add > Add File/Add Folder".

Add file

Step 3: Transfer Settings

After finish adding files to the iTransfer, there'll be a pop-up window for transfer settings. Tick "Transfer to List" and select "iTunes/iDevice" before transferring the video files. Tick "Save to Folder" and click "Change" to choose a folder on your computer to save the files tranferred from your iOS device. Then click "Transfer Now" at the right bottom of the dialog to start transfer.

Transfer settings