Convert ISO to AVI Free in 2026: 4 Tools for Windows & Mac

I often find old DVD collections saved as ISO files on my hard drive. While these images are perfect for preserving the original structure of a disc, they aren't very practical for playback on mobile devices or older hardware. 

Therefore, I usually convert these ISO files to AVI to ensure they work on my car's infotainment system or legacy DVD players that don't support modern codecs. In this guide, I’ll show you the most reliable tools I use to convert ISO to AVI efficiently.

How to Convert ISO to AVI with DVDFab DVD Ripper

DVDFab DVD Ripper is usually the first ISO to AVI converter I pick, especially when dealing with protected ISO files that other software might struggle to open. It bypasses common encryption like CSS and APS, allowing you to extract video from almost any disc image without errors. 

Beyond simply helping you convert ISO to AVI, DVDFab gives you a lot of control over the final output. You can select specific audio tracks, add subtitles, and fine-tune technical details like bitrate and resolution. I also find the built-in editor useful for quick trims or crops before the conversion starts. Since it supports modern GPU hardware acceleration, the entire process usually finishes in just a few minutes rather than an hour.

👉Features of this free ISO to AVI converter

Steps to Convert ISO to AVI Using DVDFab DVD Ripper:

Step 1: Launch DVDFab and Load ISO Files.

Launch DVDFab 13 and pick the Ripper module. Now you can drag and drop an ISO file or a folder onto the workspace. If you want to convert DVD to AVI, put it in the optical drive or click the Add button to find it. 

Step 2: Set Output Profile to AVI.

Click Choose Other Profile on the Ripper interface and then choose AVI. In addition to AVI, DVDFab DVD Ripper can output video and audio in more than 1,000 other formats. It also provides the Device tab to help you pick the compatible output format with your device if you don't know which specific one you should choose.

Step 3: Adjust Advanced Settings.

You can change settings like bitrate, frame rate, quality, and so on for video and audio quality in Advanced Settings menu. If you want to select some audio tracks to keep, go to the Audio pull-down menu on the main screen. Next to the Audio menu is the Subtitle menu, where you can select subtitle tracks or add external ones. You can also click the Video Edit button to personalize the video in creative ways, like changing the brightness, cropping, trimming, and adding watermarks.

Step 4: Start to Convert ISO to AVI with DVDFab DVD Ripper. 

Once you have made all necessary selections, begin ripping your DVDs. You can save the video on your HDD or Mobile device. Simply click the Start button, and the DVD ripping process will be clearly displayed.

How to Convert ISO to AVI with VLC

VLC Media Player is a widely used tool that also functions as an ISO to AVI converter. I often recommend it for simple tasks because it is free and available for both Windows and Mac. The primary benefit is that you likely already have it installed, so there is no need to download new software for a quick conversion. It handles standard media formats reliably and does not add any watermarks to your output.

On the downside, VLC is not a dedicated ripping tool. It cannot handle ISO files that have disc protection or encryption, which makes it useless for most commercial DVDs. You also will not find any video editing features in VLC to trim or adjust your footage. Additionally, I have noticed that the conversion speed is relatively slow and the output can sometimes suffer from audio synchronization issues if the ISO structure is complex.

👉Features of VLC ISO to AVI Converter

Steps to Convert ISO to AVI Free with VLC Media Player:

Step 1:  Open VLC and Access Converter.

Launch VLC Media Player. Click Media, then Convert/Save. Windows users can also use the shortcut Ctrl+R to open VLC's conversion feature.

Step 2: Load the ISO File.

In the Open Media window, under the File tab, click Add and select your ISO file. Then click Convert/Save to proceed to subsequent output settings. 

Step 3: Select AVI as Output Format.

In Convert, open the Profile dropdown. If you don't see the AVI format here, click the wrench icon to Edit selected profile or click Create a new profile, then in Encapsulation, choose AVI format. 

Step 4: Adjust Conversion Settings.

In the profile editor you can also choose video and audio codecs and adjust the bitrate, etc. For optimized output quality, we recommend choose H.264 or MPEG-4 in Video codec, and MP3 or AAC in Audio codec. Remember increase Bitrate for better quality is at the cost of a larger file. Then, click Save if you edited/created a profile. 

Step 5: Start Convert ISO to AVI with VLC.

Then Set Destination with Browse to pick where the .avi will be saved. Click Start to convert the ISO to AVI. Your watermark-free .avi file will be written to the destination you set.

How to Convert ISO to AVI with XMedia Recode

XMedia Recode is a free ISO to AVI converter for Windows that offers high levels of customization. I recommend this tool for users who know exactly which video and audio codecs they want to use. It allows you to adjust the bitrate and frame rate with great precision, which is helpful if you are trying to make an AVI file play on a very specific piece of legacy hardware. It is completely free and does not include any hidden costs or watermarks.

However, the user interface is quite dated and can feel overwhelming at first. You should also know that XMedia Recode cannot open ISO files directly like a standard video. You must first mount the ISO as a virtual drive in your computer so the software can read the contents as a physical disc. This extra step might be annoying for some, but for a free tool that offers professional grade settings, it is a small trade off to make.

👉Features of XMedia Recode ISO to AVI Converter

Steps to Convert ISO to AVI Free with XMedia Recode:

Step 1:  Install XMedia Recode from the official website's legacy versions page. Launch the program after installation completes.

Step 2: Mount or extract your ISO. 

• In Windows, double-click the .iso file to mount it as a new DVD drive (or extract the VIDEO_TS folder with 7-Zip).
• On Mac, open Finder and locate your .iso file. Double-click the file. A new disc appears on the Desktop or Sidebar (mounted at /Volumes/). Open it and go to VIDEO_TS to see the VOB/IFO files. When done, Eject the disc (click ⏏ or press ⌘E).

Step 3: Open XMedia Recode, click Open File, and then select the mounted DVD drive or browse to VIDEO_TS.IFO. Choose the main title (usually the longest duration) and optional audio/subtitle tracks.

Step 4: In the Format tab, select AVI. In the Video section, you can adjust settings such as the framerate. If your DVD is interlaced, click Filters and then select Deinterlace. There are also other filter options available. In the Subtitle section, you can import external subtitles.

Step 5: Click Browse and choose the destination folder. Select the title you want to convert from the list, then click the Add to queue button on the navigation bar, and finally click Encode. XMedia Recode will output an .avi file to your chosen location.

Conclusion

If you are converting ISO to AVI for an older player or a specific legacy program, AVI remains a practical output format. DVDFab DVD Ripper is the most reliable ISO to AVI converter if you want a clear process that lets you easily manage titles, audio, and subtitles. Free tools like VLC and XMedia Recode are also good for simple tasks, provided the source DVD ISO does not have copy protection. I hope this guide helps you get your media library back into a playable format!