M4V to WMV Converter
Generate a ready-to-run FFmpeg command to convert M4V files to WMV, or follow the step-by-step HandBrake guide.
FFmpeg Command Generator
Set your options and copy the ready-to-run FFmpeg command.
Generated command
ffmpeg -i input.m4v -c:v wmv3 -b:v 5000k -c:a wmav2 -b:a 128k output.wmv
Batch convert all M4V files in the current folder
Linux / macOS (bash)
for f in *.m4v; do
ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:v wmv3 -b:v 5000k \
-c:a wmav2 -b:a 128k "${f%.m4v}.wmv"
done
Windows PowerShell
Get-ChildItem *.m4v | ForEach-Object {
ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -c:v wmv3 `
-b:v 5000k -c:a wmav2 -b:a 128k `
($_.BaseName + ".wmv")
}
Install FFmpeg
Windows: winget install ffmpeg | macOS: brew install ffmpeg | Ubuntu: sudo apt install ffmpeg
DRM-protected M4V files cannot be converted
M4V files purchased from iTunes with Apple FairPlay DRM will fail or produce a blank video. These methods work only for DRM-free M4V files — personal screen recordings, unlocked downloads, or files you created yourself.
M4V vs WMV — Format Comparison
| Feature | M4V | WMV |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Apple | Microsoft |
| Video codec (typical) | H.264 (AVC) | WMV2 or WMV3 (VC-1) |
| Audio codec (typical) | AAC, AC-3 | WMA v1/v2, WMA Pro |
| DRM support | Optional (Apple FairPlay) | Optional (Windows PlayReady) |
| Native platform | Apple devices (iPhone, Mac) | Windows (Windows Media Player) |
| Cross-platform playback | Limited on non-Apple devices | Limited on macOS / Linux |
| File extension | .m4v | .wmv, .asf |
HandBrake Method (GUI)
HandBrake does not natively output WMV, but you can use its "Custom" profile with the ASF/WMV container.
-
1
Download HandBrake
Get the free installer from handbrake.fr. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
-
2
Open your M4V file
Click Open Source and browse to your .m4v file. HandBrake scans and loads the title list.
-
3
Select a Fast 1080p30 MP4 preset
Choose a preset matching your resolution. This converts to MP4 as an intermediate step.
-
4
Click Start Encode — then convert MP4 to WMV
After HandBrake finishes, use the FFmpeg command above to convert the resulting MP4 to WMV in one fast pass.
When Should You Use WMV?
When the target system is Windows-only and specifically requires WMV input — older corporate video platforms, legacy Windows Media Services, or Windows-based presentation systems.
When the file will be shared cross-platform or uploaded to web platforms. MP4 (H.264) has broader support on macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and modern browsers.
At the same bitrate, H.264 (MP4) typically outperforms WMV3 in quality. If you must use WMV, set a higher bitrate than you would for an equivalent MP4 encode.
Summary
Generate a ready-to-run FFmpeg command to convert M4V files to WMV, or follow the step-by-step HandBrake guide.
How it works
- Choose your preferred conversion method: FFmpeg command generator or HandBrake GUI.
- For FFmpeg, set your quality and audio options, then copy the generated command.
- Paste the command into your terminal and replace the placeholder filenames.
- For HandBrake, install it, open your M4V file, and select the WMV output profile.
- Run the conversion — the tool processes the file locally on your computer.
- Play the resulting WMV file in Windows Media Player or upload it to platforms that require WMV.
Use cases
- Share DRM-free M4V recordings with colleagues who use Windows Media Player.
- Upload M4V screen recordings to corporate systems that require WMV input.
- Batch-convert a folder of M4V home videos to WMV for archiving on Windows.
- Prepare M4V footage for older Windows-based video editing software.
- Convert Apple screen recordings to WMV for use in Windows-only presentations.
- Reduce file size by re-encoding M4V to WMV with WMV2 or WMV3 codec settings.