Free online OGV to WMV converter

Some older Windows applications, media players, presentation systems, and embedded devices accept WMV but not OGV. Converting requires re-encoding the OGV video and audio into codecs supported by the target software, so keep the original file for archival use.

What the OGV format is

OGV is an Ogg media container commonly used with Theora video and Vorbis or Opus audio. Open-source applications, Linux screen recorders, educational projects, and older web-video workflows commonly produce it; VLC, FFmpeg, OBS Studio, and some Linux recording tools can open or create OGV files.

The .ogv extension identifies the container, not one fixed codec combination. Files with unusual audio, multiple streams, or subtitles can be inspected with ffprobe input.ogv before conversion.

What the WMV format is

WMV usually means Windows Media Video stored in an ASF container with a .wmv extension. Microsoft developed the Windows Media codecs, and WMV remains useful for older Windows Media Player installations, legacy Windows applications, and hardware or presentation systems that specifically require Windows Media.

WMV is not a general-purpose modern format: browsers, phones, and cross-platform editors generally provide better support for H.264 video in an MP4 container. Use WMV when the receiving program or device requires it. A .wmv filename alone does not guarantee compatibility because WMV files can use different video and audio codec variants.

Convert with 101convert.com

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software. Open its OGV-to-WMV converter, select the .ogv file, choose WMV as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting .wmv file. Open the result in the intended Windows application before deleting the source. Browser-based conversion requires uploading the file, so use a desktop tool instead for confidential footage or files that cannot leave your computer.

Convert with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is suitable for repeatable conversions and gives direct control over the output codecs and bitrate. Install FFmpeg, open a terminal in the source-file folder, and run:

ffmpeg -i input.ogv -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v wmv2 -b:v 2M -c:a wmav2 -b:a 128k output.wmv

This creates an ASF/WMV file using the widely supported older WMV2 video codec and Windows Media Audio 2. Replace input.ogv and output.wmv with the actual filenames; quote filenames containing spaces.

For a video without an audio stream, omit the audio mapping and audio options:

ffmpeg -i input.ogv -map 0:v:0 -c:v wmv2 -b:v 2M output.wmv

The bitrate must match the source resolution and motion. Around 1M may suit low-resolution footage, while 2M to 4M is a reasonable starting range for 720p; inspect the result and increase it when fine detail or text is important. Higher bitrate increases file size.

Quality and compatibility checks

Conversion is normally lossy twice: the source Theora and Vorbis streams are decoded, then compressed again as WMV2 and WMA. Do not repeatedly convert an already compressed file, and retain the original OGV as the best available source.

FFmpeg normally retains the source dimensions and frame rate. If the destination requires a fixed frame rate, add an option such as -r 30, but this can duplicate or discard frames. Check the output for audio synchronization, interlacing, nonstandard dimensions, subtitles, and the required WMV codec profile. WMV2 is not the same as newer WMV9 or WMV3 variants, and a legacy application may accept one but reject another.

Desktop programs such as VLC can inspect the source, but HandBrake does not natively export WMV; it is therefore not a direct OGV-to-WMV solution. FFmpeg or a converter that explicitly offers WMV output is required.