Step 1: Provide your AVI files using the button above or by toss and let go.
Step 2: Click the 'Convert' button to start the conversion.
Step 3: Fetch your converted WMV files.
AVI to WMV Conversion FAQ
How do I convert AVI to WMV without re-encoding the video stream?
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There is no stream-copy switch on this page. A few pairs copy a compatible video stream into the WMV container without re-encoding it, MKV to MP4 among them, which is quick and loses no quality. Most pairs re-encode the video. AVI files predate modern codecs: expect MPEG-4 Part 2 (DivX/Xvid), Motion JPEG or raw uncompressed frames rather than H.264. WMV carries Microsoft’s own VC-1 or WMV3 video with WMA audio — codecs almost nothing outside Windows decodes natively.
My AVI recordings are split into numbered parts — does WMV have the same limit?
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No, and that is one of the better reasons to move. The AVI container has a practical single-file ceiling that long or high-bitrate recordings run straight into, which is exactly why old captures arrive as part1, part2, part3. WMV has no equivalent limit, so the pieces can be rejoined into one continuous file. AVI has no native support for modern codecs, variable frame rate, soft subtitles or files over 4 GB without hacks, and its per-chunk overhead bloats the file.
My AVI has several audio tracks — do they all survive into the WMV?
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No. The converter keeps one audio track, the one with the most channels (normally the main mix), and drops the rest; there is no setting to pick a different one. To keep another track, remux the AVI with that track first (VLC or ffmpeg can do this), then convert it. AVI is trivially simple, which is exactly why ancient camcorders, capture cards, DVD ripping tools and Windows-era software all still emit it. WMV is effectively a dead end: macOS, iOS, Android and every browser need third-party decoders, and some WMV files carry DRM that cannot be converted at all.
Is there any point converting between two legacy formats like AVI and WMV?
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Only if a specific piece of equipment demands the target. Both formats come from the same pre-H.264 era, so neither conversion buys efficiency, quality or future-proofing — it buys compatibility with one particular device. If the goal is to keep the footage usable long-term, convert to a current container instead of sideways.
Will multi-track audio survive AVI to WMV conversion?
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Usually not. Most conversions keep one audio track, the one with the most channels (normally the main mix), re-encoded for the WMV container, so commentary and alternate-language tracks are dropped. AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, VOB and M4V to MKV keep every track, and so does MP4 to MOV. To keep a different track, remux the AVI with that track first (VLC or ffmpeg can do this), then convert it. WMV is Windows Media Video, Microsoft’s ASF-based format from the Windows XP era.
Are subtitle tracks preserved when converting AVI to WMV?
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On some pairs. MP4 to MOV keeps every text subtitle track. AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, VOB and M4V to MKV keep every subtitle track: text subtitles are copied or converted to SRT, and picture-based subtitles such as DVD or Blu-ray ones are copied as they are. MP4, MOV and WebM to MKV keep only the first subtitle track (as ASS), and MP4 to WebM keeps the first one as WebVTT. Other pairs, including MKV to MP4 or MOV and WebM to MP4, drop subtitle tracks, and the converter does not burn them into the picture. Subtitles that are already burned in stay, because they are part of the video frames.
What about MKV attachments (fonts, cover art) when going AVI to WMV?
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MKV is the only mainstream container that stores arbitrary attached files (TTF fonts for ASS subs, JPG cover art, fan-translated PDF inserts). Going from AVI to WMV drops these attachments when WMV is not MKV — the elementary streams convert, but the attached payload stays in the source. Keep AVI as a backup if you depend on attached fonts.
Which codec does the WMV output use by default?
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It depends on the WMV container. MP4, MOV and MKV output use H.264, which plays on practically every phone, browser and TV. WebM output uses VP9. AVI, WMV and MPEG output use the older codecs those formats were designed for. WMV compresses well for its age and remains the format PowerPoint, older Windows screen recorders and corporate media libraries expect.
How does HDR (HDR10, Dolby Vision) survive AVI to WMV?
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There is no HDR processing or tone mapping. When the video stream is copied (MKV to MP4 or MOV with the default settings), HDR10 passes through as it is. When the video is re-encoded, the HDR10 mastering metadata is dropped and Dolby Vision or HDR10+ data is not kept, and with a Quality, Resolution or Frame Rate setting some pairs also reduce the video to 8-bit colour, so an HDR AVI can look washed out in the WMV.
Why is my WMV file smaller / larger than the AVI after conversion?
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It depends on what happens to the video. MKV to MP4 or MOV with the default settings copies the video stream unchanged, so the size stays close to the source. Most other pairs re-encode it: a high-bitrate AVI usually comes out smaller, while an already heavily compressed one can grow. Smaller File under Quality gives the smallest output, and H.265 in the Codec setting (MP4, MOV and MKV) is usually smaller than H.264 at similar quality but plays on fewer devices.
