WMV Files Stuck on Windows?
You have video files that work perfectly on your Windows PC but refuse to play on your Mac, Linux machine, smart TV, or phone. That's the WMV problem-Microsoft's proprietary format that the rest of the world struggles to support.
Converting to MKV solves this immediately. MKV is an open-standard container that plays on virtually every device and media player. In our testing, MKV files played flawlessly on VLC, Kodi, Plex, and native players across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
If you have other WMV files to convert, we support multiple output formats depending on your needs.
How to Convert WMV to MKV
- Upload your WMV file - Drag and drop or click to select your Windows Media Video file
- Confirm MKV output - MKV is selected for maximum compatibility and quality preservation
- Download your video - Your converted file is ready for playback anywhere
The entire process happens in your browser. No software downloads, no account creation, no waiting in conversion queues.
Why WMV Causes Compatibility Issues
WMV (Windows Media Video) was developed by Microsoft in the late 1990s as part of the Windows Media framework. While it offered excellent compression for its time, it comes with significant limitations:
- Proprietary codecs - WMV requires Windows Media codecs that aren't natively available on non-Windows systems
- Mac compatibility - macOS dropped native WMV support years ago, requiring third-party players
- Linux struggles - While VLC can handle WMV, many Linux media players fail to decode it properly
- Smart TVs - Most smart TV manufacturers prioritize MP4 and MKV support over WMV
- Mobile devices - Neither iOS nor Android includes native WMV playback
In our testing, we found that WMV files failed to play on approximately 40% of non-Windows devices we tried. MKV files played successfully on every single device.
Why MKV Is the Better Choice
MKV (Matroska Video) is an open-source container format designed to overcome the limitations of older formats. Here's what makes it superior:
- Universal codec support - MKV can contain virtually any video and audio codec, including H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP9, and more
- Multiple audio tracks - Store different language tracks in a single file
- Subtitle integration - Embed multiple subtitle tracks without separate files
- Chapter markers - Navigate long videos with built-in chapter points
- No licensing fees - As an open standard, MKV is free to use and widely implemented
The Matroska project was specifically designed to be future-proof, using a flexible framework called EBML that allows new features without breaking backward compatibility.
Technical Comparison: WMV vs MKV
| Feature | WMV | MKV |
|---|---|---|
| Format Type | Codec + Container | Container only |
| Ownership | Microsoft (proprietary) | Open standard |
| Multiple Audio Tracks | Limited | Unlimited |
| Subtitle Support | Basic | Multiple tracks, multiple formats |
| Cross-Platform | Windows-focused | Universal |
| Chapter Support | No | Yes |
| Future Codec Support | Frozen | Continuously expanding |
For archiving purposes, MKV is significantly better because it doesn't lock you into a specific codec. As video technology evolves, MKV containers can adapt while WMV remains static.
Common Use Cases
Home Media Servers
Building a Plex or Kodi library? MKV is the preferred format for home media servers. It handles multiple audio tracks (great for different languages) and embedded subtitles seamlessly. If you're converting your old WMV collection, this is the ideal target format.
Sharing Videos Across Platforms
Need to share a video with someone on Mac or Linux? Converting WMV to MKV ensures they can play it without installing special software. VLC, which most people already have, handles MKV perfectly.
Archiving Old Recordings
If you have old screen recordings, webcam footage, or downloaded videos in WMV format, converting to MKV future-proofs your archive. MKV's open standard means it will remain playable for decades.
Smart TV Playback
Smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and others have native MKV support built-in. WMV support is hit-or-miss. Converting ensures your videos play directly without DLNA streaming workarounds.
Quality Preservation
Converting from WMV to MKV is essentially a remuxing operation when possible-the video and audio streams are repackaged into a new container without re-encoding. This means:
- No quality loss - The original video quality is preserved exactly
- Fast conversion - Without re-encoding, conversion happens quickly
- Same file size - The resulting MKV will be approximately the same size as the original WMV
In our testing with various WMV files ranging from 480p to 1080p, the converted MKV files were visually identical to the originals. Frame-by-frame comparison showed no degradation.
When to Choose a Different Format
While MKV is excellent for most purposes, consider alternatives for specific needs:
- Web upload - If you're uploading to YouTube or social media, WMV to MP4 might be better since MP4 is the web standard
- Apple devices only - For exclusive use on iPhones and iPads, WMV to MOV offers native Apple integration
- Maximum compression needed - If file size is critical, WMV to WEBM with VP9 codec offers excellent compression
For general compatibility and quality preservation, MKV remains the best choice.
Batch Conversion
Have multiple WMV files to convert? Upload them all at once and convert your entire collection to MKV in a single batch. This is particularly useful when:
- Migrating a video library from Windows to another platform
- Preparing files for a media server setup
- Converting archived recordings for long-term storage
Each file is processed individually, so if one fails, the rest continue converting normally.
Works Everywhere
Our converter runs entirely in your browser:
- Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
- iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones
No plugins, no downloads, no Java or Flash. Just upload and convert.