How do I open a .WMV file on Windows or Mac?

You can open .WMV files using Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player, Movies & TV (Windows). If you do not have native software installed, you can use OpenAnyFile's free File Identifier or convert .WMV to a standard format in your browser.

Is a .WMV file safe to open?

This format carries a safety rating of Low Risk. Legacy video format designed for Windows Media ecosystem

Can I convert a .WMV file to other formats?

Yes! .WMV can be converted to formats such as .MP4, .MP3 directly in your web browser.

What should I do if a .WMV file is corrupted or won't open?

If your .WMV file displays an invalid header or signature error, check its magic bytes hex header (Varies) using OpenAnyFile's Magic Byte Detector or follow our step-by-step file repair guide.

How do I open .WMV files?

You can open .WMV files using Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player, Movies & TV (Windows).

Audio & Video • MIME: video/x-ms-wmv

.WMV – WMV File Format

Q: What is a .WMV file?

A .WMV file is a WMV File Format associated with Audio & Video. WMV is a series of video codec formats and container specifications developed by Microsoft for internet streaming and Windows media desktop software.

WMV is a series of video codec formats and container specifications developed by Microsoft for internet streaming and Windows media desktop software.

Primary Category Audio & Video

MIME Type video/x-ms-wmv

Magic Bytes Signature Varies

Security Risk Rating Low Risk

Recommended Software to Open .WMV

Windows Media Player

windows, mac, linux • Free

VLC Media Player

windows, mac, linux • Free

Movies & TV (Windows)

windows, mac, linux • Free