Convert MP4 to WMA Online Free
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Extract the audio track from your MP4 video and save it as WMA — the Windows Media Audio format. Perfect for Windows Media Player libraries and older Windows-based audio devices.
By ChangeThisFile Team · Last updated: March 2026
ChangeThisFile converts MP4 to WMA using FFmpeg, a professional-grade multimedia framework, to transcode MP4 files to WMA 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.
MP4 vs WMA: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | MP4 | WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Video container (audio + video) | Windows proprietary audio format |
| Developer | MPEG / ISO standard | Microsoft |
| Codec | H.264/H.265 + AAC/MP3 | Windows Media Audio codec |
| File size | Large (includes video) | Small — comparable to MP3/AAC |
| Compatibility | Universal video players | Windows Media Player, Xbox, Windows apps |
| DRM support | Limited | Strong DRM via PlayReady |
| Metadata | Title, chapters, subtitles | WMA tags: artist, album, genre, cover |
| Use case | Video content delivery | Windows Media libraries, legacy devices |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Build a Windows Media Player music library
If you use Windows Media Player to manage your music, WMA is the native format. Convert MP4 videos to WMA to import music content into your WMP library with full tagging and album art support.
Create audio for Xbox Media Center
Xbox consoles natively support WMA for background music and media playback. Extract audio from MP4 game trailers, videos, or recordings to WMA for use on your Xbox library or home theater system.
Prepare audio for legacy Windows devices
Older Windows phones, portable media players, and CE devices often prefer or exclusively support WMA. Convert MP4 audio to WMA to ensure compatibility with aging hardware.
Extract audio for corporate Windows environments
Some corporate environments use Windows Media Player for internal audio distribution and training materials. Converting recorded MP4 training videos to WMA allows distribution in these controlled environments.
Reduce file size for email distribution on Windows
WMA files are compact audio-only files that are far smaller than their source MP4 videos. Share extracted audio content via Outlook or internal messaging systems where video attachments would exceed limits.
Who Uses This Conversion
Tailored guidance for different workflows
Podcasters
- Pull the audio from a recorded MP4 interview or webinar and publish it as a WMA episode
- Convert a MP4 livestream recording to WMA so listeners can catch up on the go
Musicians & Producers
- Extract a performance take from a MP4 video into WMA to edit in your DAW
- Rip reference audio from a MP4 clip to WMA for sampling or transcription
Content Creators
- Convert a MP4 recording to WMA to reuse the soundtrack as background audio or a voiceover
- Turn a MP4 talk into a WMA audiogram or clip for social platforms
How to Convert MP4 to WMA
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1
Upload your MP4 file
Drag and drop your .mp4 file onto the converter, or click to browse. The free tier accepts files up to 25MB; eligible paid browser access accepts up to 100MB.
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2
Server-side WMA encoding
Your file is uploaded over HTTPS and FFmpeg extracts the audio track, encoding it as WMA. The video stream is discarded. Processing typically completes in a few seconds.
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3
Download your WMA file
Click Download to save the .wma file. Both the original MP4 and converted WMA are automatically deleted from our servers after you download.
Developers: convert via API →
Frequently Asked Questions
WMA stands for Windows Media Audio, a proprietary codec developed by Microsoft. It was designed to compete with MP3 and offers comparable quality at similar file sizes, with strong DRM support for content protection.
WMA has limited support outside Windows. VLC and some Android devices support it, but iOS, macOS, and Linux require third-party codecs. For cross-platform use, MP3 or AAC are better choices.
Yes. Converting from AAC (typical in MP4) to WMA involves re-encoding, which introduces a small quality reduction. WMA at 192 kbps delivers audio that is indistinguishable from the source for most listeners.
FFmpeg encodes WMA at a high quality bitrate setting by default, typically 192 kbps. This provides excellent audio quality for music, speech, and general content.
Yes. Windows Media Player monitors designated media folders and imports WMA files automatically when you add them to your music or video library folders.
WMA files support Windows Media metadata tags including title, artist, album, year, genre, track number, and embedded album art. These can be edited in Windows Media Player or tag editors like Mp3tag.
ChangeThisFile itself is free to use. WMA is a Microsoft proprietary format — ensure you have appropriate rights for any content you convert and distribute commercially.
WMA and MP3 are broadly comparable in quality at equivalent bitrates, though WMA is generally considered slightly better than MP3 at lower bitrates (below 128 kbps). For modern use, AAC outperforms both.
Yes. The free tier accepts files up to 25MB; eligible paid browser access accepts up to 100MB. For very long videos, only the audio track is extracted so the output WMA will be much smaller than the source MP4.
Yes. Uploads use HTTPS encryption. Files are deleted automatically from our servers immediately after conversion is complete. We do not store or access your content.
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