Convert WMV to AVI
Free, fast and secure — convert WMV to AVI right in your browser.
Convert WMV to AVI for wider compatibility
Converting WMV to AVI gives you a more widely supported file that opens cleanly across more devices, apps and platforms — handy when WMV will not play nicely everywhere.
How to convert WMV to AVI
- 1 Drop your WMV file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to AVI automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new AVI file instantly.
WMV vs AVI
| Feature | WMV | AVI |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Transparency | No | No |
| Animation | Yes | Yes |
| MIME type | video/x-ms-wmv | video/x-msvideo |
| Best for | Legacy Windows video — converted to MP4 for modern sharing. | Legacy desktop video — usually converted to MP4 for sharing and streaming. |
About the formats
Windows Media Video
WMV is Microsoft’s video format, once common on Windows for streaming and playback. It compresses well but is dated and poorly supported outside Windows.
Strengths
- Good compression for its era
- Plays natively on Windows
- Small files
Limitations
- Weak support on Mac, mobile and web
- Dated codec
- Often needs converting
Best for: Legacy Windows video — converted to MP4 for modern sharing.
AVI video
AVI is a long-standing Microsoft container. It is widely readable on desktops and can store high-quality video, but its files are large and it lacks modern streaming features.
Strengths
- Broad desktop compatibility
- Simple, well-understood format
- Can hold high-quality video
Limitations
- Large file sizes
- No modern streaming features
- Weak mobile/browser support
Best for: Legacy desktop video — usually converted to MP4 for sharing and streaming.