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.wmv

Low risk

Windows Media Video

Microsoft's video container, widespread in the 2000s and still found in legacy enterprise systems and lecture recordings.

MIME types

  • video/x-ms-wmv

Category

video

What opens this file

  • Windows Media Player
  • VLC
  • mpv

How to open by OS

Windows

  • Media Player, Movies & TV, VLC.

Mac

  • VLC, IINA.

Linux

  • VLC, mpv.

Ios

  • VLC.

Android

  • VLC, MX Player.

Safety notes

  • Some older WMVs carry DRM and will refuse to play on machines without the original purchase license.

Common mistakes

  • Publishing WMV for public distribution leaves iOS and macOS users behind — convert to MP4 first.
  • VC-1-encoded WMV is not supported by every player.

Related extensions

References