Convert wmv to mov

Free online WMV to MOV converter

Convert Windows Media Video to a QuickTime MOV file for Apple playback and editing.

Convert WMV to MOV online - free

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How to convert wmv to mov file

  • Video

A Windows application may export WMV files that QuickTime Player, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, or an Apple-focused workflow cannot import reliably. Converting the file to MOV can improve compatibility for editing, playback, or delivery, but the result may use different codecs and may not retain the original quality.

What WMV is

WMV (Windows Media Video) is a Microsoft video format developed for Windows playback, streaming, and storage. It appears in files created by older versions of Windows Movie Maker, Windows Media Encoder, some presentation software, and screen-recording applications.

WMV files can contain WMV7, WMV8, or WMV9 video and may include Windows Media Audio (WMA). The .wmv extension normally identifies an ASF-based file containing Windows Media streams; it does not describe every codec or stream inside the file. Current Apple applications and mobile devices do not support every WMV variant.

What MOV is

MOV is a QuickTime container developed by Apple. It can store video, audio, subtitles, timecode, metadata, and multiple tracks. MOV is a container, not a single video codec, so a .mov file can contain H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and other formats.

H.264 video with AAC audio is a practical choice for general playback and sharing. ProRes with PCM audio is better suited to editing because it uses an intraframe codec and preserves more information through repeated edits, but it produces much larger files. A MOV extension alone does not guarantee compatibility; the target application must support the codecs inside it.

Convert WMV online without installing software

You can convert the file on 101convert.com for free. The exact labels can vary by site version, but the process is:

  1. Open the WMV-to-MOV converter on 101convert.com.
  2. Upload the source file with the file picker or upload control.
  3. Select MOV as the output format and start the conversion.
  4. Download the resulting .mov file and test it in the application or device that will use it.

Uploading requires transferring the video to a third-party server. Do not use a browser-based converter for confidential, copyrighted, regulated, or otherwise restricted footage unless its handling and retention policies are acceptable. Large files may also be limited by upload time, browser stability, or service limits.

Convert with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a free desktop command-line tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Open a terminal or Command Prompt in the folder containing the WMV file and run:

ffmpeg -i input.wmv -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mov

Replace input.wmv with the actual filename; quote the filename if it contains spaces. This command decodes the WMV and WMA streams, then encodes H.264 video and AAC audio in a MOV container. H.264 is broadly supported, and -crf controls quality: lower values create larger, higher-quality files. A value around 18 is high quality; 23 is a smaller general-purpose setting.

For an editing master, encode to ProRes instead:

ffmpeg -i input.wmv -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 2 -c:a pcm_s16le output.mov

This creates ProRes 422 video with uncompressed PCM audio. It is substantially larger than an H.264/AAC conversion, so it is unsuitable when small file size or fast sharing is the priority. Use the ProRes command only when the editing application benefits from an intraframe intermediate.

Stream copying can avoid re-encoding:

ffmpeg -i input.wmv -c copy output.mov

This is fast and lossless, but it works only when the existing video and audio codecs are valid in a MOV container and accepted by the target software. WMV video and WMA audio often fail that requirement, so re-encoding to H.264/AAC or ProRes is usually necessary.

Quality and compatibility limits

  • Re-encoding cannot restore detail already lost in the WMV source. Keep the original WMV as the archival copy and treat the MOV as a working or delivery copy.
  • Changing .wmv to .mov only renames the file; it does not change the container, codecs, or compatibility.
  • Resolution, frame rate, aspect ratio, interlacing, audio channels, subtitles, metadata, and variable frame timing may change or be lost during conversion. Check the converted file at its intended destination.
  • For broad playback, choose H.264 video and AAC audio. For professional editing, choose the codec and audio format specified by the application or production workflow.

WMV vs MOV: format comparison

How the WMV and MOV formats compare on the properties that matter most for this conversion.

Comparison of the WMV and MOV file formats
Property .WMV Windows Media Video .MOV QuickTime File Format
Format type Codec Container
Compression Lossy Both
Maximum resolution 8K and above 8K and above
Audio tracks Multiple
Subtitles Embedded in the file
Streaming Partial Partial
Opens in a web browser Partial Partial
Typical file size Small Large
Open standard No Partly open
Introduced 1999 1991
Developer Microsoft Apple Inc.
MIME type video/x-ms-wmv video/quicktime

Frequently asked questions

Is the WMV to MOV converter free?

Yes, converting WMV to MOV on 101convert.com is completely free. No registration, email address or installation is required.

How large can my WMV file be?

You can upload WMV files up to 2000 MB and convert up to 1 files at once in a single batch.

What happens to my uploaded files?

Files are processed automatically and deleted from our servers within a few minutes after conversion. We never view or share your files.

Do I need to install any software to convert WMV to MOV?

No. The WMV to MOV conversion runs entirely online in your browser and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.

Did the conversion fail?

In most cases, the cause is an incorrect file format. Please upload a valid WMV file for this WMV to MOV conversion. Occasionally, the issue may be on our side. We analyze recurring conversion failures and disable or fix the converter if we detect a defect.

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