AVC typically means H.264/AVC compression, which is the codec, not the container, and most real-world videos live inside MP4, MKV, MOV, or TS containers that can hold AVC video plus audio streams, leading people to call an MP4 "an AVC file" even though MP4 is the real file format; when a file literally ends in .avc or .h264/.264, it often represents a raw stream or special-device export that might open in VLC but may have poor seeking, bad duration data, or missing audio because only containers provide indexing and multi-track structure.

Some CCTV/DVR setups label standard footage with unusual extensions even when the data is perfectly normal, so simply renaming to .mp4 may fix playback, while other clips are proprietary and need the vendor tool to convert; the simplest way to identify the format is to load it in VLC, view codec info, or check with MediaInfo to see if it’s a true container (MP4/MKV/TS), and if it shows a raw AVC stream the typical solution is to recontainerize it into MP4 to get better compatibility and seeking.

A `.mp4` file is normally a standard MP4 *container*, offering organized video, audio, timing, indexing, subtitles, and metadata, but a `.avc` file is frequently just a raw H.264/AVC stream or device-specific output with none of that structure; it can decode, yet players might show wrong duration reports because essential container-level information is absent.

This is also why `.avc` files often end up with no sound: audio may be separate or never embedded, unlike MP4 which usually carries both video and audio; on top of that, many CCTV/DVR exporters use odd extensions, so a mislabeled `.avc` might actually be MP4/TS and start working once renamed, while truly proprietary ones need the vendor’s app to convert; basically, `.mp4` means standard container structure, whereas `.avc` often means video-only data, resulting in missing audio and unreliable seeking.

Once you figure out what your "AVC file" actually is, the next move depends on whether it’s mislabeled, a raw H. Should you liked this informative article along with you would want to be given details regarding AVC data file generously pay a visit to the web-page. 264 stream, or a proprietary CCTV/DVR export; if MediaInfo or VLC reveals it’s in a normal container (e.g., showing "Format: MPEG-4" or behaving like a standard video), the easiest fix is usually renaming the extension—many devices save MP4s but call them `.avc`, and switching `clip.avc` to `clip.mp4` often makes it universally playable (always duplicate the file first); if it turns out to be a raw H.264 stream, usually identified by "Format: AVC" with minimal container details and odd seeking, the typical remedy is to wrap it into MP4 without re-encoding so it gains proper indexing and timing for smooth playback.

If your file came from a CCTV/DVR or a system with its own packaging, the most reliable fix is using the manufacturer’s software to export as MP4 or AVI, because some proprietary structures can’t remux correctly unless processed through the official exporter; this is a true conversion, not just a rename, and if playback remains corrupted, refuses to open, or the duration stays off even after remuxing, that often indicates a damaged recording or missing sidecar/index data, requiring re-export from the device or retrieving the related metadata.