How to convert WMV to AVI
- Add your .WMV file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .AVI in a few seconds.
- Download your new .AVI file.
What to expect
- Re-encoding is mandatory: WMV stores video in the VC-1 codec inside an ASF container, incompatible with AVI, so there is no lossless stream-copy path.
- DRM-protected
WMVfiles cannot be converted - tools like ffmpeg and VLC will refuse or produce a blank file. - The
AVIoutput is typically 20-50% larger than the originalWMVat equivalent visual quality; this is normal, not an error.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting WMV to AVI lose quality?
Yes, always. Both formats use lossy compression, and re-encoding introduces a second generation of loss - higher quality settings reduce but cannot eliminate this.
Why is my AVI file larger than the original WMV?
WMV compresses more aggressively than Xvid at the same visual quality, so a larger AVI output is normal and expected.
Can I convert a DRM-protected WMV file?
No - DRM-locked WMV files can only be played through an authorised player such as Windows Media Player; conversion tools will refuse to process them.
Should I convert to AVI or MP4 instead?
MP4 (H.264) is the better choice in almost every case - smaller files, better quality, and plays on all modern devices. Choose AVI only if a specific legacy device or editor requires it.
