Is this WMV to AVI converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple WMV files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

How large can my video files be?

Free accounts support files up to 10 MB — enough for short clips and GIFs. Pro raises that to 500 MB, which covers most 1080p videos. For files over 1 GB, a native app like HandBrake will be faster.

Will the video lose quality during conversion?

When only the container changes (e.g., MKV → MP4 where both use H.264), there's zero quality loss — it's a lossless rewrap. When the codec changes, we encode at CRF 23, which is near-transparent for most content.

Why convert WMV to AVI rather than MP4?

Older video editing software (VirtualDub, older Premiere, Windows Movie Maker) works well with AVI but may not support WMV decoding. If your tool reads AVI but not WMV, this conversion solves the problem.

What codec is used in the AVI output?

The converter encodes the output as H.264 in AVI container, which gives good quality and compatibility with software that reads AVI. Some very old software may require the older DivX/Xvid codec.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

WMV to AVI Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

How to convert WMV to AVI online

1
Drop your WMV file
Drag and drop your Windows Media Video file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs Windows Media Video → Audio Video Interleave entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your AVI
Your Audio Video Interleave file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

WMV vs AVI: format overview

WMV

Windows Media Video

Microsoft · 2003

Compression: lossy
Transparency: No

✓ Good compression for Windows-native workflows
✓ DRM support for content protection
✗ Not supported on macOS, iOS, Android natively

AVI

Audio Video Interleave

Microsoft · 1992

Compression: lossy
Transparency: No

✓ Universal Windows compatibility
✓ Simple container format — widely supported

WMV magic bytes: 30 26 B2 75 8E 66 CF 11

AVI magic bytes: 52 49 46 46 xx xx xx xx 41 56 49 20

Why convert WMV to AVI?

WMV is a format that exists entirely within Microsoft's software ecosystem. While it plays fine in Windows Media Player, WMV is rejected by a wide range of professional video tools, older non-linear editors, and hardware capture systems that were built before Windows Media became widespread. DVD authoring software, older broadcast capture cards, and legacy NLE systems often expect AVI as the standard input format rather than WMV.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is the oldest and most universally recognized video container format. It dates to 1992 and was designed specifically to work with the hardware and software tools of video production. DVD authoring programs, video capture tools, and older non-linear editors all speak AVI natively. Its compatibility is not conditional — it simply works across the widest possible range of production tools.

Converting WMV to AVI breaks the Windows Media codec dependency and puts your video in the most broadly compatible container available. The video is typically re-encoded to a standard codec that AVI tools understand — this involves some quality reduction. AVI files are generally larger than WMV at equivalent quality. This conversion makes sense specifically when your target software, hardware device, or workflow requires AVI input and refuses to handle WMV. For modern editing, consider MOV or MKV instead.

Quality & file size: WMV to AVI

Typical file sizes: WMV 50–150 MB → AVI 200–600 MB.

Both WMV and AVI use lossy compression. We transcode at high quality settings (equivalent to AVI's recommended web quality) to minimize generational loss.

Color depth: WMV supports standard color, AVI supports standard color.

Transparency: WMV does not support transparency. AVI does not support transparency — transparent areas become solid white.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your WMVfiles are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.