---
title: ".wmv file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .wmv file is a Windows Media Video. Microsoft's legacy video format from the Windows XP era. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/wmv/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .wmv files

**.wmv file: Windows Media Video**

Microsoft's legacy video format from the Windows XP era.

## What opens a .wmv file

- **Windows:** Media Player (built in), VLC, MPC-HC
- **macOS:** VLC, IINA
- **Linux:** VLC, mpv

## What a .wmv file is

WMV is Microsoft's own video codec family in an ASF container, common in screen recordings and corporate video from the 2000s. Windows still plays it natively; everything else needs VLC, because Microsoft never supported the format outside Windows and Apple's old Flip4Mac plugin is long gone. Some WMV files also carry DRM, which no third-party player can unlock.

## Converting it

A .wmv file is commonly converted to .mp4, .mkv, .avi or .mov. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .wmv
- **Full name:** Windows Media Video
- **Category:** Video
- **MIME type:** video/x-ms-wmv
- **Created by:** Microsoft
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .wmv file?

On Windows use Media Player (built in); on macOS use VLC; on Linux use VLC. Microsoft's legacy video format from the Windows XP era.

### What is a .wmv file?

Windows Media Video. WMV is Microsoft's own video codec family in an ASF container, common in screen recordings and corporate video from the 2000s. Windows still plays it natively; everything else needs VLC, because Microsoft never supported the format outside Windows and Apple's old Flip4Mac plugin is long gone.

### Can I convert a .wmv file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .mp4, .mkv, .avi or .mov, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.mp4 — MPEG-4 Part 14 Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mp4/)
- [.mov — QuickTime Movie](https://atoneplace.net/file/mov/)
- [.mkv — Matroska Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mkv/)
- [.avi — Audio Video Interleave](https://atoneplace.net/file/avi/)
- [.srt — SubRip Subtitle](https://atoneplace.net/file/srt/)
- [.webm — WebM Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/webm/)
- [.ts — MPEG Transport Stream](https://atoneplace.net/file/ts/)
- [.mpg — MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mpg/)
- [.m4v — iTunes Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4v/)
- [.vtt — WebVTT Caption](https://atoneplace.net/file/vtt/)
- [.swf — Shockwave Flash Movie](https://atoneplace.net/file/swf/)
- [.mts — AVCHD Video](https://atoneplace.net/file/mts/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)