Video conversion
Convert WMV to 3GP
Updated Jul 2026
WMV is Windows Media Video, a format built for Windows-based playback, while 3GP is a compressed video format made for old mobile phones with small screens and limited storage. To convert WMV to 3GP, open the file in a converter and export it as 3GP. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to be uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .wmv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Windows video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .3gp
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Old mobile phones
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WMV to 3GP on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WMV to 3GP
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WMV file you want to convert, or drop in a whole folder at once.
- Choose 3GP as the output format.
- Convert. The 3GP file is written locally next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
WMV vs 3GP: what actually changes
| WMV | 3GP | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Moderate, larger than 3GP for the same clip | Very small, made to fit tight mobile storage and slow connections |
| Video quality | Good, supports standard and high definition | Low, built for small phone screens rather than sharp detail |
| Max resolution | Up to full HD and beyond | Typically capped around 176 to 320 pixels wide |
| Compatibility today | Plays natively on Windows, needs extra software on Mac or mobile | Rare now, mainly useful for very old phones or legacy hardware |
| Typical use | Everyday Windows video files, screen recordings, downloads | Video made for or shared with old feature phones |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WMV to 3GP if you need a video to play on an old feature phone, or on legacy hardware or software that only reads the 3GP format.
Keep the WMV if you're editing or storing the video for a modern computer or phone, since 3GP throws away resolution and quality to fit hardware that's mostly been retired.
Why not just use an online converter?
WMV files are often personal recordings, screen captures, or downloaded video that people don't think twice about running through a random online converter. Uploading one to a stranger's server means that video sits on someone else's machine while it converts, with no way to know what happens to it afterward. Converting on your own computer keeps the file exactly where it started, on your machine, the whole time.
Questions
Will converting WMV to 3GP lose quality?
Yes, noticeably. 3GP is a low-bitrate, low-resolution format built for old phone screens, so detail that a WMV file holds at higher resolutions gets thrown away on conversion. That's expected and can't really be avoided, since shrinking the video is the whole point of the format.
Does anything still play 3GP files?
Very old mobile phones and some legacy media players still read 3GP natively. Modern phones and computers usually need a converter or extra software, since it's largely been replaced by more capable formats.
Why would I convert to 3GP instead of a modern format?
Mostly if you're dealing with old hardware, a legacy phone, or software that specifically requires it. For anything modern, a format built for today's screens makes more sense.
Can I convert WMV to 3GP without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your own computer, so the video never has to travel over the internet to get converted.
Morphjet converts WMV, 3GP, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.