WMV to AVI Converter

Convert a Windows WMV into an AVI that older players and legacy editing tools accept. Free, in your browser, with no signup or watermark.

Select WMV file →

Rated 4.5 / out of 5 by Video Creators on

Choose Files

Click or drag and drop to upload files

We support most file types including: MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, MP3, WAV, PNG, JPEG, GIF, MKV, PDF, FLAC, TIFF!

EchoWave is used by creators, marketers, educators, and businesses to convert and edit media online.

Updated June 2026

WMV and AVI are both older Microsoft video formats, but plenty of legacy players, editors, and devices accept AVI when they choke on WMV. Converting WMV to AVI is mostly about compatibility with that older software, not modern quality. EchoWave does it free in your browser, with no signup and no watermark.

Free, no sign-upNo account, no trial

Runs in your browserNothing to install

Works on every devicePhone, tablet, laptop

No watermarkClean output, every time

How it works

How to convert WMV to AVI

1
Upload your WMV
Drag your WMV onto the converter or pick it from your device. Nothing to install.
2
Choose AVI and convert
Select AVI as the output and start. Free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
3
Download your AVI
Save the finished AVI, or open it in the editor to trim, crop, or resize it first.

Try it

Estimate your AVI

Pick a video bitrate and a length to see the AVI file size before you convert.

Video bitrate

Length5 min

1 min30 min

Estimated AVI size183MBSharp 1080p

An estimate. Real size varies with resolution, frame rate, and how much the picture moves.

The formats

WMV vs AVI

WMV

Windows Media Video

Windows Media video, small and Windows-first

Type: Windows Media video
Holds: Windows Media video with WMA audio
Typical size: Small, built for Windows
Plays on: Windows Media Player and VLC

Best for:Older Windows video and slideshows

AVI

Audio Video Interleave

A legacy Microsoft video container

Type: Legacy video container
Holds: Older codecs like DivX or Xvid with MP3 or PCM audio
Typical size: Large for the quality it gives
Plays on: Windows and VLC, patchy on phones

Best for:Playing older Windows video files

Will it lose quality?

When the codecs already match AVI, the converter can change the container without re-encoding, so the picture stays identical.
When the video has to be re-encoded for AVI, a high bitrate keeps it visually close to the WMV.
Converting cannot add detail the WMV never had. The output is at best as good as the source.

Use cases

What people use it for

Play anywhereMake a clip your device supports

Video editorsGet footage your software accepts

Web videoUse a format browsers play

CourseworkHand in a standard video file

SharingSend a clip people can open

Troubleshooting

If something looks off

The AVI will not play

Some players are picky about codecs. Try it in VLC, which opens almost anything, or convert again and let the converter re-encode the video.

The file got larger

A format change can shift the size, and re-encoding at a high bitrate adds overhead. Lower the bitrate or trim the clip for a smaller file.

Audio and video drift out of sync

Re-download the source and convert again. If a long recording drifts, splitting it into shorter pieces usually fixes the sync.

FAQ

WMV to AVI questions

Why convert WMV to AVI?

Some older video editors, capture tools, and hardware players read AVI but not WMV. If an app keeps rejecting your Windows Media file, an AVI is often the format it will finally accept. For modern web and phone playback, MP4 is the better choice.

Is the WMV to AVI converter free?

Yes. EchoWave converts WMV to AVI with no signup, no trial, no watermark, and no file-count limit on these pages. Upload your video, convert it, and download the AVI from your browser.

How do I convert WMV to AVI?

Upload your WMV, choose AVI as the output format, and start. When it finishes, download the AVI or open it in the editor to trim, crop, or adjust the clip first.

Will converting WMV to AVI reduce quality?

WMV uses Windows Media video, so it is re-encoded for AVI rather than just rewrapped. A high bitrate keeps the picture close to the source. Converting cannot add detail the original WMV never had.

Will the AVI file be larger than my WMV?

Often, yes. WMV is built to be compact, while AVI carries less efficient codecs and more overhead, so the same clip can grow. If small size matters more than legacy compatibility, convert WMV to MP4 instead.

Should I really use AVI, or is MP4 better?

Use AVI only when a specific old program or device demands it. For the modern web, social apps, phones, and editors, MP4 plays more widely and stays smaller. AVI is a legacy compatibility format, not an upgrade.

Does the WMV to AVI converter work on Mac, Windows, and Linux?

Yes. The converter runs in any browser, so you can turn WMV into AVI on macOS, Windows, Chromebook, and Linux with nothing to install. To play AVI reliably, VLC opens it on every platform.

Can I convert large WMV files or several videos?

There is no cap on how many clips you run through, so feed your WMV recordings in one at a time and grab each AVI as it lands. Because AVI tends to inflate a compact WMV, a long capture can produce a sizeable output, and that bigger file is what takes the extra moment to finish.