Tips to open WMV file

Can't open the WMV file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open WMV files as well as a list of programs that support WMV files.

WMV file extension

File Name Windows Media Video Format
File Developer Microsoft
File Category Video Files

The WMV file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the WMV files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the WMV file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 6
  • 2
  • 0
  • 1
  • 0

What is WMV file?

The .WMV file is a video file. It is a format based on an ASF container. The format is owned and developed by Microsoft. Hence, it is also natively supported by Windows systems. Although the publisher provides codecs for other systems, playback problems on other platforms often occur. In these cases, the .WMV files are converted to another more compatible format. Files without a video track are marked as .WMA.

How to open WMV file?

The most common problem when using Windows Media Video Format is that a specific WMV is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open WMV, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the WMV 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 Elmedia Player

In this case, you should first verify that the Elmedia Player application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Elmedia Player in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support WMV files.

Programs to open WMV file

Remember to download programs supporting WMV files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Totem
Totem
xine
xine
WMV Player
WMV Player
Step 2. Create association of Elmedia Player with WMV files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the WMV file still does not use the Elmedia Player program, it means no association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the WMV file with the Elmedia Player application.

Step 3. Update Elmedia Player to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Elmedia Player program, it is possible that Windows Media Video 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 Eltima Software GmbH. page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the WMV file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to WMV files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. 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 WMV file. However, remember that not every infected WMV file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of WMV file may not always be supported by the latest software version. 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. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged WMV files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Microsoft
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted WMV files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the WMV file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file WMV to close. However, some background programs may block the WMV file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.