How to Convert MOV to WMV
Edited by Pat Bitton
June 18, 2020
There are dozens of media codecs and containers out there because every technology company wants to create the next standard file format for video and audio compression. As a result, incompatibility between files and playback software or devices like iPhones, iPads, and Android-based platforms is a widespread problem, not just for movie fans but for regular users as well. This applies to the MOV (QuickTime) format, which was developed by Apple for its QuickTime Player. MOV sometimes comes into conflict with Windows-based PCs and devices if the required codecs are not installed.
Format-related issues may include the following.
Your device can’t handle a MOV?
The problem might be that your Windows-based device doesn’t support files in this Apple-designed format. Just change the format to something like WMV.
File footage is distorted?
Distortions may be caused by the MOV file size – try shrinking it with a media converter. No sound is also a common issue. You can fix it by setting a correct audio codec.
Running out of space for a video?
Large videos can be easily compressed with the right program. You can upload a lot more of your favorite movies to a tablet or phone and watch them anytime you want.
The easiest solution is to convert MOV to WMV – a format designed by Microsoft and playable in Windows Media Player. In this article, you'll see how to handle the conversion and also will learn about differences between MOV and WMV formats.
How to Transform a Video from MOV to WMV
To perform the transfer, all you need is Movavi Video Converter. It is great for converting files from MOV to WMV or many other formats. The software supports most file types and codecs, so you can forget about problems with incompatibility.
Download Movavi Video Converter for Windows or Mac and get started watching your movies and TV shows without error messages.
Install Movavi Video Converter
Use the blue buttons above to download the software. Double-click the file when the download is complete, then follow the installation steps.
Open Files for Conversion
To add files for conversion, click Add Media and then Add Video. Locate the videos you want to convert and open them. You can process multiple files simultaneously with Movavi Video Converter.
Specify the Output File Type
Navigate to the Video tab, select the WMV group of presets, and choose the WMV preset with the resolution that best fits your needs.
Convert MOVs to WMVs
If necessary, change the destination folder by clicking the Save to button.
To change the files from MOV to WMV, click the Convert button. That's all there is to it!
Movavi Video Converter
The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!
- Convert video, audio, DVDs, and image files
- Enjoy lightning-fast conversion without quality loss
- Improve quality, adjust sound, trim and join files before converting
- Save video and audio clips for easy mobile access
Comparing MOV vs. WMV
When it comes to a MOV vs. WMV comparison and deciding which one to choose, the first question to ask yourself has to be about OS you’re going to use. That's the main difference: MOV is mostly for Apple users, and WMV for Windows users. Take a look at this table.
| Comparison parameter | MOV | WMV |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .mov, .qt | .wmv, .asf |
| Introduced by | Apple, 1998 | Microsoft, 1999 |
| Codecs | H.264, MPEG-4, MJPEG, AIC, ProRes, Sorenson 1/3, PNG, CineForm | WMV V7, WMV V8, WMV 9, WMV 9 Screen, WMV 9 Advanced profile, MPEG-4, WMV 9.1 Image V2 |
| Can contain | Audio, video, and text | Audio, video, and text |
| Supported by | All macOS / iOS devices | All Windows / Windows Mobile devices |
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