Video
What is a .wmv file?
A .wmv file is a Windows Media Video. This is a video format. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 2 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
2 different formats have claimed .wmv over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .wmv file
- VLC is the answer for the vast majority of video files.
- mpv is a lightweight alternative.
The registry records this extension against Windows Media Video, Windows Media Video (WVC1), so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .wmv file
- HandBrake converts to .mp4, which plays on effectively everything.
MIME type
When a .wmv file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
video/x-ms-wmvThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .wmv.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Media Video | — | video/x-ms-wmv | fmt/133 |
| Windows Media Video (WVC1) | 9 Advanced Profile (WVC1) | — | fmt/441 |