Convert AVI to WMV Online Free
Convert AVI video files to WMV format for native Windows Media Player playback and legacy Windows application compatibility. ChangeThisFile processes files with FFmpeg on secure servers — no installation needed.
By ChangeThisFile Team · Last updated: March 2026
ChangeThisFile converts AVI to WMV using FFmpeg, a professional-grade multimedia framework, to transcode AVI files to WMV format with optimized codec settings and quality preservation. Free with no signup required. Files are encrypted during transfer and automatically deleted from our servers after conversion.
Convert AVI to WMV
Drop your AVI file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .avi file here, or click to browse
Convert to WMV instantly
AVI vs WMV: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | AVI | WMV |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Audio Video Interleave | Windows Media Video |
| Developer | Microsoft (1992) | Microsoft (2003) |
| Container Format | RIFF-based AVI | ASF (Advanced Systems Format) |
| Video Codec | DivX, Xvid, H.264, MPEG-4 | WMV9 / VC-1 |
| Audio Codec | MP3, PCM, AC-3 | WMA, WMA Pro |
| DRM Support | No | Yes (Windows Media DRM) |
| Streaming | Not designed for streaming | Supports Windows Media Services |
| Compression Efficiency | Older codecs less efficient | Moderate |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Windows Media Player Native Playback
Convert AVI files to WMV for playback on older Windows PCs that use Windows Media Player but lack the codec packs needed for DivX or Xvid AVI files.
Legacy Windows Application Input
Supply WMV video files to older Windows applications that require Microsoft's native video format rather than AVI with third-party codecs.
Email Video Attachments
Convert AVI files to WMV for emailing to Windows users where WMV opens reliably in Windows Media Player without additional software.
Corporate Intranet Video Sharing
Standardize video format across Windows-centric enterprise environments by converting AVI to WMV for consistent playback without codec installations.
Windows-Based Kiosk Systems
Prepare AVI video content as WMV for digital signage or kiosk systems running Windows that natively support Windows Media Video.
Who Uses This Conversion
Tailored guidance for different workflows
Content Creators
- Convert AVI footage to WMV for uploading to YouTube, TikTok, or social media platforms
- Transform AVI screen recordings to WMV for sharing in blog posts or tutorials
Video Editors
- Convert AVI raw footage to WMV for importing into editing software like Premiere or DaVinci Resolve
- Transform AVI project exports to WMV for client delivery or final distribution
Social Media Managers
- Convert AVI brand videos to WMV to meet platform-specific format requirements
- Transform AVI ad creatives to WMV for cross-platform publishing campaigns
How to Convert AVI to WMV
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1
Upload Your AVI Video
Drag your AVI file to the upload area or click to browse and select it. Files are encrypted during upload via HTTPS.
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2
Convert to WMV with FFmpeg
Our servers use FFmpeg to re-encode your AVI into WMV format using VC-1 video and Windows Media Audio, optimized for Windows Media Player playback.
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3
Download Your WMV File
Once conversion completes, download your WMV. The original AVI is permanently deleted from our servers immediately after.
Frequently Asked Questions
WMV plays natively in Windows Media Player without needing codec packs like K-Lite or DivX. It's the go-to format for Windows-native video delivery, legacy apps, and corporate environments.
FFmpeg handles the most common AVI codecs including DivX, Xvid, H.264, MPEG-4, and older codecs like Indeo and Cinepak.
It depends on the source AVI codec. WMV offers moderate compression — some AVI files will shrink, while high-efficiency AVI files like H.264 may produce similar or slightly larger WMV files.
WMV playback on Mac and Linux requires third-party players like VLC. For cross-platform playback, converting to MP4 is recommended instead.
Yes, up to 25MB (free tier; 500MB on Pro). For larger AVI files, compress or trim before uploading to ChangeThisFile.
Yes. Files are uploaded via HTTPS encryption and automatically deleted from our servers after your download completes.
Yes. FFmpeg preserves the source frame rate during conversion. Common frame rates like 24fps, 25fps, and 30fps are all maintained.
The WMV output uses Windows Media Audio (WMA) encoding, which plays natively in Windows Media Player and Windows operating systems.
Most conversions complete in under 90 seconds. File size and resolution affect processing time.
Yes. ChangeThisFile is 100% free — no accounts, subscriptions, or watermarks.
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Need to convert programmatically?
Use the ChangeThisFile API to convert AVI to WMV in your app. No rate limits, up to 500MB files, simple REST endpoint.
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