WMA file format
Windows Media Audio
WMA is Microsoft's 1999 audio format, common in old Windows Media Player libraries. Apple devices, browsers and many phones can't play it, so converting to MP3 is common.
| Property | WMA |
|---|---|
| File extensions | .wma |
| MIME type | audio/x-ms-wma |
| Introduced | 1999 by Microsoft |
| Compression | Lossy (also Pro/Lossless variants) |
| Typical bitrate | 64–192 kbps |
| 3-minute song | ≈ 3.6 MB at 160 kbps |
| Tags and cover art | Yes |
| Compatibility | Windows; poor on Mac, iPhone and browsers |
| Best for | Old Windows Media Player libraries |
What is a WMA file?
WMA (Windows Media Audio) was released by Microsoft in 1999 to compete with MP3 and is stored in the ASF container. Windows Media Player ripped CDs to WMA by default for years, so many older music collections are WMA.
Strengths and weaknesses
WMA sounds slightly better than MP3 at low bitrates and plays natively on Windows. But iPhones, Macs, web browsers and many Android apps don't support it, and Microsoft has long since moved on to AAC and MP3.
When should you use WMA?
Only for legacy Windows setups. Convert WMA libraries to MP3 or M4A so they play on every device.