Audio conversion
Convert WMA to WAV
Updated Jul 2026
WMA is a compressed audio format built for Windows Media Player, and WAV is the uncompressed format most audio and video software expects. To convert WMA to WAV, open the file in a converter and export it as WAV. Doing this on your own computer means the audio never has to be uploaded anywhere first.
- Extension
- .wma
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Windows audio
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
Convert WMA to WAV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WMA to WAV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WMA file, or a whole folder of them, at once.
- Choose WAV as the output format.
- Convert. The WAV file is written right next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
WMA vs WAV: what actually changes
| WMA | WAV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller, compressed | Much larger, uncompressed |
| Sound quality | Lossy, some detail already discarded | Lossless from this point on, but can't restore what WMA already threw away |
| Opens everywhere | Mostly Windows, patchy support elsewhere | Yes, near universal on Mac and Windows |
| Works in editing software | Limited, many audio and video editors won't import it directly | Yes, the standard format for editing and mixing |
| Metadata tags | Yes, title, artist, album | Limited, tags often get dropped or only partly supported |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WMA to WAV when you need to bring the audio into an editor, a video project, or any software that doesn't read WMA reliably, especially on a Mac.
Keep the WMA if you're just listening to it and it already plays fine, since converting won't bring back any quality WMA's compression already discarded, and the WAV will be many times larger for no real benefit.
Why not just use an online converter?
WMA files are often personal recordings, voice memos, or ripped audio, not just background music. An online converter means uploading that audio to a server you don't control and waiting for it to come back. Converting on your own computer keeps the file where it started, and the conversion works the same with the wifi off.
Questions
Does converting WMA to WAV improve the sound quality?
No. WMA is a lossy format, so whatever detail it discarded when the file was first compressed is gone for good. Converting to WAV just unpacks the audio into an uncompressed file, it doesn't add anything back.
Why does the WAV file end up so much bigger?
WAV stores audio uncompressed, while WMA is compressed to save space. Converting between them can easily turn a few megabytes into tens of megabytes, which is normal and not a sign anything went wrong.
Will my song and artist tags carry over?
Not reliably. WAV's metadata support is limited compared to WMA, so titles, artist names, and album art may not transfer. If you need that information kept, it's worth checking the file after converting.
Can I convert WMA to WAV without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the audio never has to travel over the internet to get turned into a WAV.
Why would I need WAV instead of just keeping WMA?
WAV is the format most editing, mixing, and video software expects. If a program refuses to import your WMA file, or plays it back oddly, converting to WAV usually fixes it.
Morphjet converts WMA, WAV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.