ChangeMyFile - Free Online File ConverterChangeMyFile
Trusted by thousands of users worldwide

WMV Converter - Transform Windows Media Videos

Convert Windows Media videos to any format instantly

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

Read Terms of use before using

Share:fXin@
500+ Formats
Lightning Fast
100% Secure
Always Free
Cloud Processing

What is WMV?

WMV (Windows Media Video) is Microsoft's video format, part of the Windows Media framework. Developed in the late 1990s, it was designed for streaming video and as a competitor to RealVideo and QuickTime.

WMV files use Microsoft's proprietary codecs (WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, and VC-1) and are commonly created by Windows Movie Maker, screen recording software, and various Microsoft applications.

While WMV works well on Windows, it has limited support on Mac, mobile devices, and web platforms, making conversion to MP4 essential for cross-platform sharing.

Why Convert WMV Files?

WMV's Windows-centric nature limits its usefulness:

  • Mac compatibility - macOS has limited WMV support
  • Mobile playback - iPhones and many Android devices can't play WMV
  • Web streaming - HTML5 video doesn't support WMV
  • Platform uploads - Social media and video sites prefer MP4
  • Editing software - Non-Microsoft editors may not support WMV
  • Future-proofing - MP4 has better long-term support than WMV

Convert WMV to Other Formats

Transform WMV for universal compatibility:

WMV to MP4

The essential conversion for WMV files. MP4 works on all devices, platforms, and browsers while maintaining quality.

WMV to AVI

Convert to another Windows-friendly format for legacy software compatibility.

WMV to MOV

Transform for Apple ecosystem compatibility and Mac-based editing.

WMV to MKV

Convert to MKV for archival with support for multiple tracks and metadata.

WMV to WebM

Create web-optimized video for HTML5 browser playback.

WMV to MP3

Extract audio from WMV videos as MP3 files.

Convert Other Formats to WMV

Create WMV for Windows-specific applications:

MP4 to WMV

Convert for compatibility with older Windows software or Windows Media Player preferences.

AVI to WMV

Transform to WMV for smaller file sizes with Windows optimization.

MOV to WMV

Convert Apple videos for Windows-centric environments.

MKV to WMV

Create WMV from MKV for Windows playback.

WMV Technical Specifications

  • Full name: Windows Media Video
  • Developer: Microsoft Corporation
  • First released: 1999
  • File extension: .wmv
  • MIME type: video/x-ms-wmv
  • Video codecs: WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VC-1
  • Audio codec: WMA (Windows Media Audio)
  • Container: ASF (Advanced Systems Format)
  • DRM support: Yes (Windows Media DRM)

WMV Compatibility

Platforms That Support WMV

  • Windows (native support)
  • Windows Media Player
  • VLC Media Player
  • Xbox consoles
  • Some Windows-focused software

Platforms With Limited WMV Support

  • macOS (needs third-party player)
  • iPhones and iPads
  • Most Android devices
  • Web browsers (no HTML5 support)
  • Linux (needs codecs)
  • Video platforms and social media

How to Convert WMV Files

  1. Upload your WMV file - Drag and drop your Windows Media video or click to browse.
  2. Choose your output format - Select MP4 for universal compatibility, or other formats as needed.
  3. Download converted file - Get your video ready for any platform or device.

Pro Tip

WMV9 and VC-1 are actually quite good codecs. If you have high-quality WMV9 content, use high bitrate settings when converting to MP4 to preserve the quality.

Common Mistake

Keeping WMV files for cross-platform sharing. WMV is Windows-only in practice. Always convert to MP4 when sharing with non-Windows users.

Best For

WMV is useful for Windows-specific applications, legacy Windows environments, and content that will only be viewed on Windows systems.

Not Recommended

Avoid WMV for new video projects or cross-platform distribution. Use MP4 instead for universal compatibility. WMV is essentially a legacy format.

Frequently Asked Questions

WMV (Windows Media Video) is Microsoft's video format, commonly used in Windows applications. It was popular for streaming and Windows Movie Maker projects. WMV works well on Windows but has limited cross-platform support.

Upload your WMV file to ChangeMyFile, select MP4 as output, and download. The conversion creates a universally compatible video that works on all devices and platforms.

macOS doesn't natively support WMV. Use VLC Media Player for Mac, or convert WMV to MP4 or MOV for native macOS playback.

Minimal quality loss occurs with proper settings. Modern H.264 encoding is efficient, often matching or exceeding WMV quality at similar file sizes.

No, iOS doesn't support WMV. Convert to MP4 or MOV for iPhone playback, or use VLC for iOS as an alternative.

WMV use has declined significantly. It's mainly found in legacy Windows content and older video archives. MP4 has replaced it as the standard video format.

WMV is Microsoft's format optimized for Windows; MP4 is the universal standard. MP4 has much broader compatibility across all devices and platforms. Use MP4 for general purposes.

YouTube accepts WMV but recommends MP4. Converting to MP4 ensures faster uploads and better processing. YouTube processes MP4 more efficiently.

Older WMV codecs (WMV7, WMV8) are less efficient than modern compression. Convert to MP4 with H.264 to significantly reduce file size while maintaining quality.

Yes, ChangeMyFile supports batch conversion. Upload multiple WMV files and convert them all to MP4 or other formats at once.

WMV Conversions & Related Converters

Quick access to the most commonly used file conversions.