Downloaded a Web Video That Won't Play?
You saved a video from the web and it's in WEBM format. You try to open it in Windows Media Player—nothing happens. The file just sits there, unrecognized by your Windows system.
WEBM is designed for web browsers, not Windows desktop applications. Converting to WMV solves this instantly. WMV is Microsoft's native video format, built specifically for Windows environments and guaranteed to work with Windows Media Player, PowerPoint, and Windows Movie Maker.
If you're working with other WEBM files and need different output formats, we support those too.
How to Convert WEBM to WMV
- Upload your WEBM file – Drag and drop or click to select your web video
- Confirm WMV output – WMV is selected for maximum Windows compatibility
- Download your video – Your file is now ready for Windows Media Player
The entire process takes seconds. No software to install, no account required. Just convert and download.
Why WEBM Doesn't Work on Windows
WEBM was created by Google in 2010 as an open, royalty-free video format for the web. It uses VP8 or VP9 video codecs with Vorbis or Opus audio—technologies that web browsers understand natively but Windows Media Player does not.
Here's where WEBM typically fails on Windows:
- Windows Media Player – Cannot play WEBM without third-party codec packs
- PowerPoint – Rejects WEBM files for video embedding
- Windows Movie Maker – Does not recognize WEBM for editing
- Older Windows versions – Windows 7 and 8 have no native WEBM support
- Corporate environments – IT policies often block codec installations
WMV, developed by Microsoft in 1999, is designed from the ground up for Windows. It uses Windows Media Video codec and integrates seamlessly with every Microsoft product.
WEBM vs WMV: Technical Comparison
Both formats compress video efficiently, but they're built for different ecosystems:
- WEBM – VP8/VP9 codec, Vorbis/Opus audio, open-source, web-optimized
- WMV – Windows Media Video codec, WMA audio, Microsoft proprietary, Windows-optimized
In our testing, WMV files are typically 10-15% larger than equivalent WEBM files at the same quality. The tradeoff is universal Windows compatibility without installing any additional software.
For web playback, WEBM is more efficient. For Windows desktop use, WMV is the practical choice. If you need a more universal format, consider WEBM to MP4 instead.
When to Convert WEBM to WMV
Corporate Presentations
You need to embed a video in PowerPoint for a business presentation. The video you downloaded is WEBM. PowerPoint only accepts WMV, AVI, and MP4. Converting to WMV ensures your presentation works on any Windows computer in your office.
Windows Media Player Libraries
You organize your video collection in Windows Media Player. WEBM files don't appear in your library because Windows can't index them. Convert to WMV and your videos integrate perfectly with your existing collection.
Legacy System Compatibility
You're working with Windows 7 or older systems that have no WEBM support at all. WMV works on Windows versions going back to Windows 98. In our testing, WMV files played without issues on machines running Windows XP through Windows 11.
Video Editing in Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker and other older Windows video editors don't support WEBM. Converting to WMV lets you edit web videos in familiar Microsoft tools.
Quality Expectations
Converting from WEBM to WMV involves transcoding between different codecs. Here's what to expect:
- Visual quality – Remains high with our optimized conversion settings
- File size – WMV files are typically slightly larger than source WEBM
- Audio – Vorbis/Opus audio converts cleanly to WMA
- Resolution – Maintained at original dimensions
In our testing with 1080p content, the quality difference between source WEBM and converted WMV was imperceptible during normal playback. We use high bitrate settings to preserve detail.
When WMV Isn't the Best Choice
WMV is ideal for Windows-specific workflows, but consider alternatives for other scenarios:
- Cross-platform sharing – Convert to MP4 instead for Mac, mobile, and web compatibility
- Archival storage – Convert to MKV for better compression and metadata support
- Apple devices – Convert to MOV for native macOS and iOS playback
Choose WMV when your primary goal is Windows Media Player playback or integration with Microsoft Office products.
Batch Conversion for Multiple Files
Have a folder full of WEBM recordings from screen captures or web downloads? Upload them all at once. Our converter processes multiple files simultaneously, saving you from converting one at a time.
This is especially useful for:
- Screen recordings from browsers that default to WEBM
- Downloaded web videos from platforms that serve WEBM
- Archived content that needs Windows compatibility
Works on Any Device
Our WEBM to WMV converter runs entirely in your browser:
- Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
- Tablets and mobile devices
Start your conversion on any device—the WMV output will be ready for Windows when you need it.