AVI to WMV Converter

Generate a personalized FFmpeg command to convert AVI video files to WMV format, with quality and codec options — fully client-side.

FFmpeg Command Builder

Fill in your file details and quality settings. The command is generated instantly — nothing leaves your browser.

Generated Command

ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v wmv2 -b:v 4000k -c:a wmav2 -b:a 128k output.wmv
Video codec wmv2 (WMV8)
Video bitrate 4000 kbps
Audio codec wmav2
Audio bitrate 128 kbps

Why in-browser AVI to WMV is not possible

WMV uses Microsoft's proprietary VC-1 / WMV9 codec. Browser APIs (WebCodecs, MediaRecorder) only support open codecs — H.264, VP8, VP9, AV1. No JavaScript library can legally encode to WMV. FFmpeg, which is open-source and runs locally on your machine, is the correct and fastest tool for this job. Your video never leaves your device.

How to install FFmpeg

Windows

winget install ffmpeg

Or download a build from ffmpeg.org/download.html

macOS

brew install ffmpeg

Ubuntu / Debian Linux

sudo apt install ffmpeg

Verify your install: ffmpeg -version

AVI vs WMV — Quick Comparison

AVI

  • Microsoft container (open)
  • Common codecs: DivX, Xvid, H.264
  • Large file sizes, broad compatibility
  • No streaming support

WMV

  • Microsoft proprietary format
  • Common codecs: WMV9, VC-1
  • Good compression for Windows
  • Supported by Windows Media Player

Summary

Generate a personalized FFmpeg command to convert AVI video files to WMV format, with quality and codec options — fully client-side.

How it works

  1. Enter your AVI source filename in the input field (or keep the default).
  2. Set your desired output filename for the WMV file.
  3. Choose a video quality preset (Low, Medium, High, or Custom bitrate).
  4. Select an audio quality option.
  5. Click "Generate Command" to build the FFmpeg command.
  6. Copy the command and run it in your terminal where FFmpeg is installed.

Use cases

  • Deliver AVI footage to Windows-centric clients that require WMV format.
  • Convert AVI files for playback in Windows Media Player on older machines.
  • Prepare video for legacy corporate e-learning platforms that accept only WMV.
  • Re-encode AVI archives to WMV9 for storage on Windows Media Services.
  • Convert home video AVI recordings for Windows-based digital photo frames.
  • Get the right FFmpeg incantation without memorizing codec flags.
  • Customize bitrate for a specific file size target before conversion.
  • Verify the correct codec name (wmv2 vs wmv1) for different WMV versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu