Video conversion
Convert WMV to MOV
Updated Jul 2026
WMV is the video format Windows has used for years, and MOV is the one Mac and iPhone expect. To convert WMV to MOV, open the file in a converter and export it as MOV. Doing this on your own computer means the video, often an old home movie, never has to be uploaded anywhere to make the switch.
- Extension
- .wmv
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Windows video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .mov
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iPhone / Mac recordings
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WMV to MOV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WMV to MOV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WMV file, or a whole folder of them, from wherever it's stored.
- Choose MOV as the output format.
- Convert. The MOV files are written right next to your originals, and the video never leaves your machine.
WMV vs MOV: what actually changes
| WMV | MOV | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Mainly Windows, needs extra software elsewhere | Native on Mac, iPhone, and iPad |
| Editing support | Older Windows editing tools | The default format most Mac video editors expect |
| File size | Compact, tuned for lower bitrates | Often larger, since it's built to hold higher-quality video |
| Quality | Lossy, and modest by current standards | Lossy, but typically holds more detail and a higher bitrate |
| Codec flexibility | Limited to Windows Media codecs | A container that can hold several different video codecs |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WMV to MOV when you want to move an old Windows video, like a family recording or a screen capture, onto a Mac or iPhone, or into Mac video editing software that doesn't read WMV.
If the WMV already plays fine on the Windows machine it lives on and you don't need it on a Mac or iPhone, leave it as is, since re-encoding to MOV is a lossy step you can't fully undo.
Why not just use an online converter?
WMV files are often personal, old home videos, recorded meetings, screen captures that people would rather not hand to a stranger's server just to change the format. An online converter uploads the whole video to convert it. Doing it on your own computer means the file is read, converted, and saved locally, and never travels over the internet.
Questions
Does converting WMV to MOV lose quality?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding from one to the other adds a small amount of generation loss on top of whatever compression the original WMV already had. It's usually not noticeable for casual viewing.
Will the MOV file play on a Windows PC?
Not always out of the box. Some Windows media players handle MOV fine, but others need an extra codec or plugin, so if you still need to play it on Windows, it's worth testing before you delete the WMV original.
Why do old Windows videos come as WMV in the first place?
WMV was Windows' default video format for a long time, especially for camcorder imports, screen recordings, and simple home video projects. It works well within Windows but isn't natively supported on Mac or iPhone, which is why people convert it.
Does the video keep its audio and length after converting?
Yes. Converting WMV to MOV changes the container and re-encodes the video and audio streams, but the content, length, and audio track carry over as they were.
Can I convert WMV to MOV without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to be sent over the internet, which matters for videos you'd rather keep private.
Morphjet converts WMV, MOV, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.