DIVX file format (.divx)
DivX-encoded MPEG-4, common on old download sites.
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What is a DIVX file?
In short: A DIVX file (.divx) is a video file in the DIVX format. DivX was the codec that made it practical to fit a film onto a single CD, and it defined an era of file sharing. It can be converted to MP4, MOV or GIF for free in a web browser with iHateFiles, without uploading it.
DivX began in 1999 as a hacked Microsoft MPEG-4 codec, then became a legitimate company.
DivX was the codec that made it practical to fit a film onto a single CD, and it defined an era of file sharing. A DivX file is usually an AVI containing MPEG-4 Part 2 video, and the DVD players of the mid-2000s advertised DivX support on the box.
What DIVX is good at
- Fitted a feature film onto a 700 MB disc
- Supported by a generation of DVD players
- Large archive of content
Where DIVX falls short
- H.264 compresses considerably better
- Inherits the limitations of the AVI container
- No modern software targets it
When to use DIVX
Convert DivX to MP4 for anything you want to keep watching.
How to open a DIVX file
VLC, older DVD players, most desktop software.
| Windows | VLC, or any player with the DivX codec. Most DivX files are in an AVI container. |
|---|---|
| macOS | VLC. |
| Linux | VLC and mpv, through FFmpeg’s MPEG-4 Part 2 decoder. |
| Phone | VLC. |
| In a browser | No browser plays DivX. |
The thing that usually goes wrong
DivX, XviD and MPEG-4 Part 2 are near enough the same thing under different names, and all three convert the same way.
Questions
What is a DIVX file?
DivX-encoded MPEG-4, common on old download sites. Files use the .divx extension.
How do I open a DIVX file?
DIVX is not widely supported any more. The reliable route is to convert it to a current format, which this page can do in your browser without uploading it.
Can I convert DIVX for free?
Yes. Every conversion here is free and unlimited, because your own device does the work rather than a server we have to pay for.
Is DIVX lossless?
That depends on the codec inside the container rather than the container itself. Everything written here is re-encoded, so expect one generation of loss.