Video conversion
Convert AVI to WMV
Updated Jul 2026
AVI is an older Windows video container that often stores video with little or no compression, which is why the files get so big. WMV is Microsoft's more compact format, built for smaller files that still play natively on Windows. To convert, open the AVI in a converter and export it as WMV, right on your own computer, with nothing uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .avi
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Legacy Windows video
- Extension
- .wmv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Windows video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert AVI to WMV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AVI to WMV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AVI file, or a whole folder of them.
- Choose WMV as the output format.
- Convert. The WMV is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
AVI vs WMV: what actually changes
| AVI | WMV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, often little or no compression | Much smaller, built for compact storage |
| Quality | Lossless in the container itself | Lossy, some detail is compressed away on export |
| Plays natively on Windows | Yes, with the right codec installed | Yes, this is Microsoft's own format |
| Plays natively on Mac | Rarely, needs extra software | Rarely, needs extra software |
| Good for archiving | Yes, if storage space isn't a concern | Less ideal, since it's already compressed |
| Good for sending or storing many files | No, files are too large | Yes, much easier to store and send |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AVI to WMV when you have old AVI footage that's taking up too much disk space, or when you need a version that plays smoothly on a Windows PC without a bulky codec pack.
Keep the AVI original if you plan to edit the footage further or archive it at full quality, since WMV's compression is a one-way trade you can't undo.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old AVI files often sit around from years of home videos, screen recordings, or downloaded footage, and people default to uploading them to a random online converter just to shrink them down. That means the file travels to a stranger's server and sits there however long they choose. Converting on your own computer keeps that footage exactly where it started, on your machine.
Questions
Does converting AVI to WMV lose quality?
Yes, some. WMV compresses the video on export, so there's a one-time quality loss compared to an uncompressed AVI. For everyday playback and storage it's usually not noticeable, but if you need the original quality preserved, keep the AVI.
Why are AVI files so much bigger than WMV?
AVI is a container format from the 1990s that often wraps video with light or no compression, so it stores every detail at the cost of space. WMV was designed later specifically to compress that same footage into a much smaller file.
Will WMV play on a Mac?
Not natively. WMV is a Microsoft format built for Windows Media Player, so a Mac usually needs extra software to open it. If you're staying on Windows, it plays without any extra setup.
Can I convert AVI to WMV without uploading the video?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your own computer, so the footage never gets sent anywhere. You can do it with your wifi off.
Is WMV a good format for long-term storage?
It's fine for saving space, but since it's already compressed, converting it again later or editing it heavily can degrade quality further. If you might need the footage at full fidelity someday, keep a copy of the original AVI too.
Morphjet converts AVI, WMV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.