WMV vs MP4
MP4 has replaced WMV everywhere, including on Windows. WMV plays on Windows and very little else, while MP4 plays on everything. Convert old WMV files to MP4 to keep them watchable.
Last updated
Choose WMV when
- Old PowerPoint presentations and Windows-only workflows that already use them.
Choose MP4 when
- Anything else: Macs, phones, TVs, browsers, and uploading anywhere.
- Smaller files at the same quality.
What WMV actually is
WMV was Microsoft's answer to RealVideo and QuickTime, and for a while it was how video was distributed on Windows. It was also built to carry digital rights management, which is why some old WMV files refuse to play even on Windows.
A WMV that will not play anywhere may be DRM-protected rather than corrupt. No converter can remove that, and none should.
What MP4 actually is
MP4 is a container: it holds a video stream, usually H.264, an audio stream, usually AAC, and any subtitles or chapter data, and describes how they line up. Almost every device made in the last fifteen years plays that combination in hardware, which is why MP4 became the default.
Two MP4 files can behave completely differently depending on the codecs inside. A file that will not play is usually an unusual codec in an ordinary container, not a broken file.
WMV and MP4 side by side
| WMV | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .wmv | .mp4 |
| Media type | video/x-ms-wmv | video/mp4 |
| Inside the file | Windows Media (MS-MPEG4) video with WMA sound | H.264 video with AAC sound |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Carries sound | Yes | Yes |
| Plays on | Windows, and VLC elsewhere; Macs need an extra player | every phone, laptop, TV, browser and messaging app |
| We can write it | Yes | Yes |
Questions
Why will a WMV not play on my Mac?
macOS does not support Windows Media Video. Convert it to MP4, or use VLC.