What is an XVID file?
An XVID file is a digital video codec that compresses and decompresses video content, ready for playback, with a reduced file size. XVID files use the MPEG-4 compression technique, which is the international standard for compressing large amounts of data, while maintaining video and audio quality.
Making the file smaller makes XVID videos easier to store and increases transfer speed. This process works similar to a ZIP file, shrinking the video size by removing unnecessary information, while retaining most of the visual quality.
History of the XVID file.
XVIDs originated in 2001, when developers took the original encoding technology for a version of DivX and created a new project to improve it. This new version was named XVID.
There’s a reason why XVID and DivX files are so often confused, and it’s not just because they sound similar. XVID was once a product of DivX software before becoming its own codec published under the GNU General Public License.
XVID files are accessible on most computer platforms, making them an ideal option for compressing video files. They’re heavily used in the production of DVD and Blu-ray content and are compatible with a wide selection of media players, which gave a rise in the codec's popularity during the 2000s. XVIDs compatibility with smartphone devices on iOS and Android has ensured its widespread usage has continued well into the 2010s and beyond.
How to use XVID files.
XVID codec files are commonly used for compressing and decompressing video content to the MPEG-4 ASP format. Popular for their convenience and functionality, XVID files:
Compress digital videos.
XVID files are commonly used to compress video files to a smaller size. The XVID codec uses an algorithm to compress and decompress the file for playback, making it an efficient storage saver.
Display films and videos.
XVID files are ideal for viewing, streaming, and storing digital films and videos because they’re supported by most media players. If the software can decode MPEG-4 encoded video files for playback, then it will play XVID files with ease.
Transfer fast.
Smaller files make for speedier transfers, which make XVID files handy for transferring, uploading, and downloading online.
Pros and cons of XVID files.
Most video files will have their share of advantages and disadvantages, including XVID files.
Pros.
- Quality. XVID files compress digital videos, without losing high-quality visuals. You can even preserve DVD-standard quality while shrinking the file to fit on a CD.
- Compatibility. Video files with an .XVID extension are compatible with Blu-ray and digital media players on computer and smartphone – expanding the number of compatible devices.
- Easy to convert. If you need to change the file type, you can convert XVID files to various other video formats, including MPG, MP4, AVI, MOV and more.
Cons.
- Lossy compression. While XVID files typically retain their quality, they use lossy compression to do so. This shrinks the file size by removing extra data, which can affect the high definition.
- Less powerful than other codecs. While XVID video codecs are still in use, more common codecs such as H.264 can compress video up to 4K and 8K Ultra High-Definition.
- Easy to mistake for a DIVX. XVID and DivX files look and act very similar to one another, which can sometimes cause confusion. Some XVID files are incompatible with DivX platforms, so make sure to check the file extension to confirm which format you’re using.
Find out which codec file types are supported by Adobe Premiere
How to open an XVID file.
Opening an XVID file to play a video is straightforward.
Most PCs with a compatible application installed can open and play XVID files natively, such as Windows Media Player or VLC.
Simply double-click the file to open with Windows Media Player. You can also play XVID files with third-party applications such as VLC Media Player and MPlayer.
Apple computers cannot play XVID files with their default player. However, you can download third-party software that will support the playback of content.
How to create and edit an XVID file.
The XVID extension is used for files created by XVID compression software. For best results, convert XVID files to MPG or MP4 and edit using Adobe Premiere.
To open a video file in Premiere, all you need to do is:
- Launch Adobe Premiere.
- Select “New Project” by clicking File > Import from Media Browser.
- Choose your video file and select Import.
- Once imported, the file is ready to edit and save.
Questions? We have answers.
XVID is the file extension used by XVID software to compress and store video files. To find the file extension, look for the last few letters at the end of your filename after the period.
You can convert XVID files to MP4 and other video formats using third-party software and websites. Most will have a drag and drop function to keep it simple. Find out which video formats are supported by Adobe Media Encoder.
XVID files compress video content using the MPEG-4 compression technique. This uses a high compression rate to shrink the file without losing its high quality. XVID codec files also identifies unnecessary data and removes anything the human eye won’t notice losing.
A codec uses an algorithm to compress audio and video files to make them smaller and easier to transfer. Learn how to use Adobe Media Encoder to encode and convert your creative projects with ease.
YouTube does not support XVID files, but you can convert an XVID video to another format to make it easier to upload online.
Adobe has a wide range of professional software available for use with video editing. Start your next project with our selection of pro tools:
Learn more about similar file types to XVID.
MPEG2.
Explore the world of MPEG-2, a type of codec used for encoding video files, often using the extension .MPG.
AVC.
Discover AVC (Advanced Video Coding), a type of video compression that is also known as H.264 and MPEG-4 Part 10.
HEVC.
Find out more about HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265, a highly efficient method of compressing high-definition video files.
WMV.
Video files that use a .WMV extension are compressed using Windows Media Video. Learn how it’s done in this guide.