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Convert MKV to WMV

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 19, 2026
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Is it possible to convert MKV to WMV?
Yes - MKV converts to WMV.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

Upload your MKV to the converter above for the fastest result. Every conversion re-encodes the video, so expect a slight quality reduction; setting a higher bitrate keeps it close to the original.

Also to WMV: WP3 · 3GPP · MPEG

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert MKV to WMV?

.WMV is a legacy Microsoft format still required by some older corporate video players, certain presentation systems, and a handful of editing suites that won't accept MKV. Windows has played MKV natively since Windows 10, so conversion is rarely needed for simple playback on a modern PC. If general compatibility is your goal, MP4 is usually a better choice than WMV.

How to convert MKV to WMV

VLC media player FREE

Open Media > Convert / Save, add your MKV, create a custom profile with WMV2 video and WMA2 audio, and export to .wmv.

Freemake Video Converter FREE

Add your MKV, choose to WMV from the format bar, and click Convert.

Command line - FFmpeg CLI

Run ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v wmv2 -b:v 2000k -c:a wmav2 output.wmv to re-encode with WMV8 video and Windows Media Audio.

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About these formats

.MKV Matroska Video

An MKV file is a Matroska multimedia container that holds video, multiple audio tracks, subtitles and chapters in one file. Open it for free with VLC media player, or on Windows 11 with the…

Open .MKV details →
.WMV Windows Media Video

A WMV file is a Windows Media Video file from Microsoft, introduced in 1999. On Windows it plays in the built-in Media Player with no setup. On Mac, Linux, Android or iOS, use the free VLC…

Open .WMV details →

Quality & what to watch

  • WMV holds only one video and one audio stream - all extra audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and chapters from the MKV are discarded.
  • Re-encoding is mandatory; there is no lossless stream-copy path from MKV to WMV, so some quality loss always occurs.
  • WMV is less efficient than H.264, so matching the original visual quality typically produces a larger file.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting MKV to WMV lose quality?
Yes - re-encoding always introduces some loss. Use a higher bitrate (e.g. -b:v 4000k for 1080p) to keep it minimal.
Will my subtitles be kept?
No, WMV does not support subtitle tracks; burn them into the video during encoding with FFmpeg's -vf subtitles=input.mkv filter if you need them visible.
Can I convert MKV to WMV on a Mac?
Yes - install FFmpeg via Homebrew (brew install ffmpeg) and run the same command, or use VLC for macOS.
Which WMV version should I use - WMV8 or WMV9?
Use WMV9 (wmv3 in FFmpeg) for better compression; choose WMV8 (wmv2) only if your target device specifically requires it.