WMV file format
Windows Media Video
WMV is Microsoft's Windows Media Video format from 1999, stored in the ASF container. It plays well on Windows but poorly on Macs, phones and browsers.
| Property | WMV |
|---|---|
| File extensions | .wmv, .asf |
| MIME type | video/x-ms-wmv |
| Introduced | 1999 by Microsoft |
| Typical video codecs | WMV 7/8/9 (VC-1) |
| Typical audio codecs | WMA |
| Plays in web browsers | No |
| Compatibility | Windows Media Player, Windows apps; poor on Mac and phones |
| Best for | Old Windows software and PowerPoint presentations |
What is a WMV file?
WMV (Windows Media Video) is a family of Microsoft video codecs introduced in 1999, stored in the Advanced Systems Format (ASF) container together with WMA audio. WMV 9 was standardised as VC-1 and used on HD DVD and early Blu-ray discs.
Strengths and weaknesses
WMV plays natively in Windows Media Player and embeds well in older versions of PowerPoint. But macOS, iOS, Android and web browsers have little or no WMV support, and the codecs are less efficient than H.264.
When should you use WMV?
Only for legacy Windows software or presentations that require it. Convert WMV to MP4 for everything else.