AVC usually means H.264/AVC compression, which is the compression technology rather than the file container, and common formats like MP4, MKV, MOV, or TS just include AVC video alongside audio, leading to mix-ups where users call an MP4 "an AVC file" even though MP4 is the container; when you see extensions like .avc or .h264/.264, they often represent raw streams or specific device exports that may open in VLC but can lack proper seeking, accurate timing, or audio because containers normally deliver indexing and multi-track support.

Some CCTV/DVR systems assign nonstandard file types though the video may still be standard, allowing a rename to .mp4 to work, while others need the manufacturer’s software to re-export; to identify the type quickly, open in VLC, check codec info, or run MediaInfo to see if it’s a normal container with audio, and if it shows as a raw AVC stream you typically remux it into an MP4 container to improve seeking and compatibility without recompression.

A `.mp4` file generally provides a complete MP4 *container* with video, audio, subtitles, metadata, and timing/index data that ensures smooth playback, while a `.avc` file often signals a raw AVC bitstream lacking container features; it may still display video, but players can struggle with jumping in the timeline due to missing structural cues.

If you loved this write-up and you would certainly like to obtain more info regarding best app to open AVC files kindly visit the webpage. This is also why `.avc` recordings often have video-only streams: audio wasn’t packaged or lives separately, whereas MP4 generally combines video and audio; plus, many CCTV/DVR systems output bizarre extensions, so a file might actually be MP4/TS but mislabeled and fixed by renaming, while others rely on proprietary wrappers needing vendor software; put simply, `.mp4` means proper multimedia packaging, and `.avc` usually means raw H.264 video, which explains missing audio, limited seeking, and compatibility problems.

Once you’ve identified whether your "AVC file" is mislabeled, raw H.264, or proprietary, the correct approach becomes clear; if MediaInfo/VLC indicates a normal container like MP4—signs include "Format: MPEG-4" or smooth navigation—renaming the extension from `.avc` to `.mp4` is often enough, ideally after copying the file; if the file is a raw AVC stream (you’ll usually see "Format: AVC" with scant container details and awkward seeking), then wrapping it into MP4 without re-encoding is the usual fix, giving it the indexing and timing data it lacks.

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 wrap into MP4 cleanly 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.