Audio conversion
Convert WAV to WMA
Updated Jul 2026
WAV is an uncompressed recording format, so the files are large but keep every bit of the original audio. WMA compresses the audio down to a fraction of the size for everyday listening on Windows. To convert, open the WAV in a converter and export it as WMA. Doing this on your own computer means the recording never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
- Extension
- .wma
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Windows audio
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WAV to WMA on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WAV to WMA
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WAV file or a whole folder of recordings.
- Choose WMA as the output format, and pick a bitrate if you want to balance size against quality.
- Convert. The WMA files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
WAV vs WMA: what actually changes
| WAV | WMA | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, roughly 10 MB per minute of stereo audio | Small, often a tenth the size or less |
| Quality | Full, uncompressed original | Reduced, with audible loss at low bitrates |
| Compatibility | Opens on Mac, Windows, and most audio software | Built for Windows Media Player and Windows apps |
| Editing suitability | Good, no generation loss when re-saving | Poor, re-editing and re-exporting compounds quality loss |
| Typical use | Recording, mixing, archiving | Everyday playback and storage on Windows |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WAV to WMA when you've finished recording or editing and just want a much smaller file for everyday playback, backup, or sending to someone on a Windows PC.
Keep the WAV if you plan to edit, mix, or master the audio further, since WMA's compression throws away detail that editing tools can't get back.
Why not just use an online converter?
A voice memo, interview, or field recording in WAV form is the rawest version of what was actually said or captured. Uploading it to an online converter means that unedited audio sits on a stranger's server, even briefly. Converting on your own computer keeps the recording, and everything in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting WAV to WMA lose quality?
Yes. WAV is uncompressed, and WMA compresses the audio to shrink the file, which throws away some detail. At a reasonable bitrate the loss is hard to notice on regular speakers or headphones, but it's not reversible.
Will WMA sound different on a Mac than on Windows?
WMA was built for Windows, so playback there is native and simple. On a Mac you'll usually need extra software to play it, which is worth knowing before you convert a batch of files for Mac listeners.
How much smaller is WMA than WAV?
A lot smaller, often a tenth the size or less depending on the bitrate you choose. That's the whole point of converting: a five minute WAV recording that takes up 50 MB might end up under 5 MB as WMA.
Can I convert WAV to WMA without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so the recording never travels over the internet. You could disconnect from wifi and it would still work.
Should I keep the original WAV after converting?
If the recording matters, yes. Once it's compressed to WMA you can't get the original detail back, so it's worth keeping the WAV around, especially for anything you might edit later.
Morphjet converts WAV, WMA, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.