One of the hassles of working with audio and video files is that there are many different file formats, and not all are easily read or universally compatible with software you commonly use.
Xvid is a codec that is designed to highly compress video files using the MPEG-4 Part 2 ASP format. Xvid is a free file format distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), so it's not uncommon to encounter this kind of file when downloading video online.
How to play Xvid files
The good news is that playing Xvid files isn't particularly complicated; there are a plethora of devices and apps that can decode and play Xvid.
How to convert Xvid files
If you want to convert an Xvid file to another format, there are a number of options to choose from. If you are looking for a fast and free option, try one of the numerous online converters. These converters are hosted in a website; just upload the Xvid file, click the button to start the conversion process, and download the converted file. It generally takes a few minutes to convert, depending on the size of the original Xvid file. Two common converters include Convertio and Office-Converter.
The disadvantage of these online converters is they typically limit the maximum file size you can upload and convert. To convert large files, you may need to purchase a commercial video utility like Handbrake or Miro.
Troubleshooting tips for Xvid files
If you're unable to play a video file, it's possible the file isn't actually an Xvid file — you might be misreading the file extension or the file might be mismarked. Keep in mind, for example, that while Xvid and Divx files share a common history and have a lot of technology in common, they are different file formats and not all Xvid files will play on Divx devices.
If you can't get a file to play, try converting it using one of the tools described in the previous section. It's possible a filer converter can transform it into a more common file format that plays properly.
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