Putting a WMV video on a website
No modern browser plays WMV. If you upload a .wmv file to your own site and add it to a page, visitors will see an error or a download link instead of a player. WEBM was designed for the web: it plays natively in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and current versions of Safari, with no plug-ins. When you convert WMV to WEBM, you get a file you can place in an HTML video tag, a learning platform or a web app.
Which codec to choose
| Codec | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VP9 | Most websites | Good quality at small sizes; the usual choice |
| VP8 | Older browsers and devices | Faster to encode, larger files |
| AV1 | Smallest files | Slowest to encode; shown only if your browser can encode it |
The sound track is also converted, because WMA audio is not allowed in WEBM files. WEBM uses open audio codecs instead, which every browser that plays WEBM can decode. If your WMV has no sound, the WEBM will be silent as well.
Speed and file size
The page first decodes the Windows Media video with its built-in converter engine and then encodes it again. VP9 and AV1 are more demanding than H.264, so this conversion takes longer than a WMV to MP4 conversion of the same clip. In return, the WEBM is often clearly smaller than the original WMV at the same visual quality, which helps pages load faster and saves bandwidth for visitors on mobile data. If the file is still too big for your site, reduce the resolution to 720p or use the WEBM Compressor.
A tip for wide support
Some older iPhones and smart TVs still prefer MP4. Many websites offer the same video in both formats and let the browser choose. You can create the MP4 copy with WMV to MP4. If you ever need to go back to Windows Media for an old system, use WEBM to WMV.