Tips to open WMA file
Can't open the WMA file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open WMA files as well as a list of programs that support WMA files.
WMA file extension
| File Name |
Windows Media Audio Format |
| File Developer |
Microsoft |
| File Category |
Audio Files |
The WMA file is supported on 6 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the WMA files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the WMA file on each system platform.
What is WMA file?
The WMA file has been categorized as Audio Files. It was designed by Microsoft. In addition to this file, the Audio Files category includes 771 related files. Windows Media Audio Format is supported by 6 operating systems. These systems consist of Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS, Windows, Windows Phone, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. It is recommended to use Smart Converter to handle this file. This is a program created by Systemic Pty Ltd. There are also 50 alternative programs to handle the WMA file. The Winamp, Windows Media Player, Mobile Media Converter, OverDrive Media Console Phone programs will also handle the file when the Smart Converter program does not fulfill its role.
How to open WMA file?
The main problem with Windows Media Audio Format is that the WMA file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file WMA to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the WMA file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Smart Converter
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Smart Converter is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Smart Converter in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file WMA with Smart Converter. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open WMA files.
Programs to open WMA file
Remember to download programs supporting WMA files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Smart Converter with WMA files
If, despite the installed application, the WMA file does not start in the Smart Converter application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the WMA file with the Smart Converter program.
Step 3. Update Smart Converter to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the Smart Converter program, it is possible that Windows Media Audio Format requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Systemic Pty Ltd page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the WMA file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to WMA files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our WMA file. However, remember that not every infected WMA file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the WMA file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular WMA file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use Microsoft help.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted WMA files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the WMA file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file WMA to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If nothing helps, please reset the device.
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