Video Format Comparison

AVI vs WMV: Legacy Windows Video Formats Compared

AVI and WMV are both Windows video formats from the 1990s that are still commonly encountered in old files, archives, camera recordings, and screen captures. Neither is a good format for modern video — they lack native support on mobile devices, aren't accepted by most web platforms, and are inefficient compared to H.264 or H.265. The practical question is: if you have old AVI or WMV files, what should you do with them? The answer is the same for both: convert to MP4.

AVIvsWMV

Quick Verdict

Use AVI when…

AVI is slightly more universally compatible than WMV on non-Windows platforms and has broader codec support. For playback on VLC or cross-platform video software, AVI with DivX/Xvid may work on more players.

Use WMV when…

WMV offers better compression than uncompressed AVI and native Windows integration. But for any modern use, convert both AVI and WMV to MP4 H.264 — that's the actual correct answer for 2024.

AVI vs WMV: Feature Comparison

Feature	AVI	WMV
Developer	Microsoft (1992)	Microsoft (1996)
Container type	AVI (holds many codecs: DivX, Xvid, H.264, etc.)	ASF container with Windows Media Video codec
Compression	Codec-dependent — ranges from uncompressed to DivX/H.264	WMV codec — proprietary Microsoft compression
File size	Varies wildly by codec — can be huge (uncompressed) or compact (DivX)	Generally compact — good compression for its era
macOS support	Requires VLC or third-party codec	Requires VLC or Flip4Mac plugin — not native
iOS/Android support	Not supported natively	Not supported natively
DRM	No DRM	Some WMV files have Windows Media DRM
Best modern path	Convert to MP4 H.264	Convert to MP4 H.264

When AVI wins

✓Developer: Microsoft (1992)
✓Container type: AVI (holds many codecs: DivX, Xvid, H.264, etc.)
✓Compression: Codec-dependent — ranges from uncompressed to DivX/H.264

When WMV wins

✓Developer: Microsoft (1996)
✓Container type: ASF container with Windows Media Video codec
✓Compression: WMV codec — proprietary Microsoft compression

Frequently asked questions

Will AVI or WMV play on a modern smart TV?

AVI plays on many smart TVs via USB (Samsung, LG, Sony often support AVI). WMV support is less common on smart TVs — many Samsung TVs support it, others don't. For guaranteed playback on any TV: convert to MP4 H.264. USB-connected video in MP4 format plays on virtually every smart TV made in the last decade.

How do I convert AVI or WMV to MP4?

Use FormatDrop's video converter (formatdrop.com/video-converter) — works in browser, no software needed. Drop in your AVI or WMV file, select MP4 output, and download the result. For WMV files with DRM, you'll need to handle the DRM first using the application that's authorized to play the file.

Why does my AVI file have no sound on some players?

AVI can contain many different audio codecs — AC3, MP3, AAC, PCM, or others. If the player doesn't have the right audio codec installed, it plays the video silently. VLC includes all common audio codecs and should play most AVI files with full audio. For reliable audio across all players, convert AVI to MP4 with AAC audio.