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Convert WMV to WMA

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Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 10, 2026
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Is it possible to convert WMV to WMA?
Yes - WMV converts to WMA.

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

Upload your WMV above and download the .wma file in seconds - it is free and your file is deleted after converting. If the audio inside your WMV is already WMA, the data is moved to a new container without re-encoding so quality is not affected. The only firm limit is DRM-protected WMV files, which no tool can legally convert.

Also to WMA: ZVR · TRM · PDS

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

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Why convert WMV to WMA?

People convert WMV to WMA when they only need the audio from a video - a recorded presentation, a music video, or a screen capture with narration. The .WMA format is the natural choice because it is already the audio codec embedded in most WMV files, making extraction fast and lossless. WMA also keeps compatibility with Windows Media Player and older Windows-based devices that prefer Microsoft formats.

How to convert WMV to WMA

VLC media player FREE

Open VLC, go to Media › Convert / Save, add your .wmv, select an Audio-WMA profile, set the output filename to .wma, and click Start.

Command line - ffmpeg CLI

Run ffmpeg -i input.wmv -vn -acodec copy output.wma to copy the WMA audio track directly with no quality loss.

FormatFactory FREE

Add your .wmv, choose WMA as the output format, and click Start - no extra configuration needed for a standard conversion.

Freemake Video Converter FREE

Drag your .wmv into Freemake, click to WMA, adjust quality if needed, and convert.

Programs that convert WMV

Adobe Premiere Pro
Aimersoft iTransfer for Windows
DVD Ripper+Video Converter Ultimate
FormatFactory
Freemake Video Converter
ImTOO DPG Converter
MediaCoder
Nero Multimedia Suite

About these formats

.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 →
.WMA Windows Media Audio

A WMA file is a compressed audio file in Microsoft's Windows Media Audio format. On Windows it plays in the built-in Media Player without any setup; on Mac, Android, or iOS use the free VLC…

Open .WMA details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Most WMV files already carry WMA audio, so extraction is a stream copy - audio quality is identical to the source; quality loss only occurs if you re-encode at a lower bitrate.
  • DRM-protected WMV files cannot be converted by any tool - open the file in VLC first; if it refuses to play, DRM is the cause.
  • Not all WMV files use WMA audio - if the embedded codec is something else (MP3, AC-3), the .wma output may not play correctly in all players; use ffmpeg -i input.wmv to check before converting.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert a DRM-protected WMV to WMA?
No - DRM locks the audio so conversion tools cannot access it. Open the file in VLC first; if VLC refuses to play it, DRM is the reason.
Does extracting WMA from WMV lose quality?
Not when the audio is stream-copied as-is. Quality loss only occurs if you re-encode, for example converting to a lower bitrate.
Why is my output .wma silent or corrupted?
The WMV probably contains a non-WMA audio codec. Run ffmpeg -i input.wmv and check the audio stream - if it is not wmav2 or wmapro, you need to re-encode rather than copy.
Should I extract to WMA or MP3?
Use WMA if the destination device supports it - stream copy is fast and lossless relative to the source. Choose MP3 for wider compatibility, but it requires re-encoding and a small quality loss.