Convert AVI to WMV Online
No native support for modern codecs like H.265 or AV1, variable frame rates, or embedded subtitles. Converting to WMV gives you a key advantage: built-in windows media drm (digital rights management) for content protection, which is why it was popular for commercial video distribution. WMV is best for playing video content designed for the windows media ecosystem and drm-protected media.
Why Convert AVI to WMV?
No native support for modern codecs like H.265 or AV1, variable frame rates, or embedded subtitles — converting to WMV overcomes this by providing built-in windows media drm (digital rights management) for content protection, which is why it was popular for commercial video distribution
WMV is the right choice when you need to: playing drm-protected video purchased from older windows digital stores
Gain broader compatibility — WMV works with Windows Media Player (native), VLC, FFmpeg; limited support on macOS and mobile
Your AVI files were created for capturing uncompressed video from screen recording tools and frame grabbers, but now you need a format suited to different workflows
AVI vs WMV — Format Comparison
Audio Video Interleave (.avi)
Windows Media Video (.wmv)
How to Convert AVI to WMV
Upload your AVI file
Drag your .avi file onto the upload area or click to browse. We accept AVI files up to 2 GB.
Choose WMV as output format
Select .wmv (Windows Media Video) from the format list. Adjust quality settings if needed — higher quality means larger file size.
Convert and download
Click Convert and wait for processing. Your WMV file will be ready to download in seconds. The result is optimized for playing video content designed for the windows media ecosystem and drm-protected media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AVI to WMV conversion lossless?
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When both formats support lossless data, the conversion preserves all content. Windows Media Video 9 achieves reasonable quality at low bitrates; supports up to 1080p.
How large will my WMV file be compared to the original AVI?
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AVI files are typically 50 MB – 20 GB, while WMV files are typically 10 MB – 2 GB. The actual size depends on content complexity and any quality settings you choose.
What software can open the converted WMV file?
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WMV is compatible with: Windows Media Player (native), VLC, FFmpeg; limited support on macOS and mobile.
What is the maximum file size I can convert?
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PureConverter accepts AVI files up to 2 GB. Your files are processed securely and deleted from our servers after conversion.
What's the difference between AVI and WMV?
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AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is best for storing uncompressed or lightly compressed video for editing on windows-based workflows. WMV (Windows Media Video) is best for playing video content designed for the windows media ecosystem and drm-protected media. Key tradeoff: AVI's advantage is extremely simple container structure that every windows media tool has supported since 1992, while WMV's advantage is built-in windows media drm (digital rights management) for content protection, which is why it was popular for commercial video distribution.
Pro Tips for AVI to WMV Conversion
For the best WMV quality, start with the highest-resolution AVI source available — lossy compression works better with more data to analyze
Keep a backup of your original AVI file — while our conversion is reliable, having the source is always recommended
WMV works especially well for: recovering video content from windows movie maker projects
Did you know? WMV was Microsoft's answer to RealVideo in the "streaming wars" of the early 2000s — Microsoft even bundled Windows Media Player with Windows specifically to compete with RealPlayer.
Ready to Convert?
Upload your AVI file above and get your WMV in seconds. Free, fast, and secure.