Video conversion
Convert M4V to WMV
Updated Jul 2026
M4V is the video format used by iTunes and Apple devices, while WMV is Microsoft's older Windows Media format. To convert M4V to WMV, open the file in a converter and export it as WMV. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere to get converted.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .wmv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Windows video
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert M4V to WMV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert M4V to WMV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V file, or a whole folder of them, to convert several at once.
- Choose WMV as the output format.
- Convert. The WMV file is written locally right next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs WMV: what actually changes
| M4V | WMV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller, efficient modern compression | Larger for the same visual quality |
| Quality at equal bitrate | High, modern codec | Lower, an older, less efficient codec |
| Opens everywhere | Best on Apple devices, iTunes, and Apple TV | Native on Windows, poor support on Mac and mobile |
| Editing software support | Widely supported by current video editors | Supported mainly by older Windows-based tools |
| Copy protection | Movies bought from the iTunes Store are often DRM-locked; your own recordings aren't | No DRM, a plain video file |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to WMV when the video needs to play on an older Windows PC, in Windows Media Player, or inside software that only accepts WMV files.
If the video is staying on a Mac, iPhone, or Apple TV, there's little reason to convert it to WMV, since that format isn't native there and re-encoding costs a little quality for nothing in return.
Why not just use an online converter?
Video files, home movies, recordings, family footage, are often large and personal, so uploading one to a stranger's server and waiting for it to come back down is a real exposure, not just a technicality. Converting on your own computer skips the upload and download entirely. The file is rewritten in place, and it never has to leave your machine to become a WMV.
Questions
Does converting M4V to WMV lose quality?
A little. Both are lossy formats, and going from one to the other means decoding and re-encoding the video, which adds a small generation loss. Using a reasonably high bitrate for the WMV output keeps the difference hard to notice.
Can I convert an M4V movie I bought from iTunes?
Only if it isn't copy protected. Movies and shows bought or rented from the iTunes Store are usually locked with DRM and won't convert. M4V files you created yourself, like exports from a video editor, convert normally.
Will the WMV file play on a Mac?
Not well. WMV is a Windows format, and Mac's built-in video player doesn't open it, so it's really meant for playback on Windows computers.
Why convert to WMV instead of just keeping the M4V?
Usually compatibility. Some older editing tools, presentation software, or Windows-only systems accept WMV but won't recognize M4V at all.
Can this be done without uploading the video?
Yes. Converting on your own computer processes the file locally, so there's no uploading a large video and waiting for it to download again.
Morphjet converts M4V, WMV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.