Convert AVI to WMV

AVI to WMV converter that runs entirely in your browser. 100% free, no signup, no upload — your files never leave your device. One-click batch conversion.

Conversions

About formats

AVI

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is one of the oldest and most recognized multimedia container formats, introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. Built on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) structure, AVI interleaves audio and video data in alternating chunks, allowing synchronized playback without requiring sophisticated stream management. The format is codec-agnostic, meaning it can hold video compressed with virtually any codec, from early Cinepak and Indeo to modern DivX, Xvid, and H.264 streams. This flexibility contributed to widespread adoption across personal computers throughout the 1990s and 2000s. AVI supports multiple audio streams, enabling multilingual content within a single file. Despite being decades old, AVI remains one of the most universally recognized multimedia formats and is still widely supported by media players and editing tools across all major operating systems.

Developer
Microsoft
Initial release
November 10, 1992
Compression
Lossy
Color depth
up to 10-bit
Transparency
No
Animation
Yes

Best for

  • Archiving legacy video footage
  • Editing in older video software
  • Storing multiple audio tracks
  • Playback on classic media players
  • Cross-codec video container use

Pros

  • +Codec-agnostic — accepts nearly any video codec
  • +Supports multiple audio streams for multilingual content
  • +Universally recognized by media players and editors
  • +Simple RIFF chunk structure easy to parse

Cons

  • −No modern streaming or chapter metadata support
  • −Files tend to be large with inefficient codecs
  • −No built-in subtitle standard
  • −Lacks DRM and modern container features

WMV

WMV (Windows Media Video) is a video compression format developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows Media framework. WMV was designed for streaming over the internet and supports DRM copy protection. It is natively supported by Windows Media Player and remains common in corporate and Windows-centric video archives.

Developer
Microsoft
Initial release
2003
Compression
Lossy
Color depth
up to 10-bit
Transparency
No
Animation
Yes

Best for

  • Windows-centric corporate video archives
  • Streaming video on legacy Windows systems
  • DRM-protected Windows Media content
  • Internal enterprise video distribution
  • Windows Media Player playback

Pros

  • +Good quality at low bitrates
  • +Native Windows Media Player support
  • +Supports DRM copy protection
  • +Designed for internet streaming

Cons

  • −Poor support on non-Windows platforms
  • −Proprietary Microsoft format
  • −Fewer modern editing tools support it
  • −Less efficient than H.264/HEVC

How to convert AVI to WMV

  1. 1

    Select AVI files from your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, a URL, or by dragging them onto the page.

  2. 2

    Choose wmv — or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported).

  3. 3

    Let the file convert, then download your wmv file right away.

AVI vs WMV

PropertyAVIWMV
CompressionLossyLossy
Color depthup to 10-bitup to 10-bit
Multi-trackYesYes
DRM supportNoYes
Open formatNoNo

When to use AVI vs WMV

AVI

  • Archiving legacy video footage
  • Editing in older video software
  • Storing multiple audio tracks
  • Playback on classic media players
  • Cross-codec video container use

WMV

  • Windows-centric corporate video archives
  • Streaming video on legacy Windows systems
  • DRM-protected Windows Media content
  • Internal enterprise video distribution
  • Windows Media Player playback

Use cases for AVI → WMV

  • Archiving legacy video footage
  • Editing in older video software
  • Storing multiple audio tracks
  • Playback on classic media players
  • Cross-codec video container use
  • Windows-centric corporate video archives
  • Streaming video on legacy Windows systems
  • DRM-protected Windows Media content
  • Internal enterprise video distribution
  • Windows Media Player playback

Frequently Asked Questions

Is converting AVI to WMV free?
Yes. This AVI → WMV converter runs entirely in your browser and is completely free — no account, no credits, no watermark.
Which devices and platforms can I use to convert AVI to WMV?
Any modern device with a current web browser: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad. There is nothing to install — the conversion happens locally.
Are my AVI files uploaded to a server?
No. Files never leave your device. The entire AVI → WMV conversion runs locally in your browser, so your data stays private.
Can I convert multiple AVI files at once?
Yes — batch conversion is supported. Add as many AVI files as you like and convert them to WMV in one pass, then download the results together.
What is the maximum file size?
There is no fixed server-side limit because the conversion happens in your browser. Practical limits depend on the available memory and CPU of your device.
Will converting AVI to WMV reduce the quality?
Because both formats use lossy compression, the WMV output will not bring back any quality that has already been lost in your AVI file. Avoid repeated re-encoding to keep the best quality.
Does WMV support transparency?
No — WMV has no alpha channel. Transparent areas of your AVI file will be filled with a solid background colour in the converted file.
How will the file size change after converting AVI to WMV?
Both formats use comparable compression, so the WMV output will be similar in size to your AVI file — typically within 10–20% of each other.

Related Conversions

Specific converters

FREE

100% Free

No hidden fees, no subscriptions, and no limits. Enjoy complete access to all features gratis.

SIGNUP

No Signup Required

Start converting immediately without creating an account or sharing email address.

PRIVACY

Private & Secure

Your files never leave your device. All processing is completed locally for maximum privacy.

BATCH

Batch Conversion

Convert multiple files simultaneously to save time. Fast and efficient multi-file queue.

LOCAL

Runs in Browser

Utilizes advanced client-side WebAssembly technology to process files directly inside your tab.

FORMATS

200+ Formats

Supports a wide variety of formats including images, documents, audio, video, and more.

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