WMV is the Microsoft Windows Media video format introduced in 1999. As a mandatory video format for Portable Media Center devices, WMV can be opened by Xbox 360 and Windows mobile phone with Windows Media Player.
- Wmv Video Player Mac
- Best Free Wmv Player For Macbook Pro
- Best Free Wmv Player For Mac Downloads
- Best Free Wmv Player For Mac Os
Is there other WMV player software that can open WMV videos?
We have a straight-up YES for this.
Free WMV Player for Mac: Elmedia. Elmedia is the best Mac WMV player - it’s easy to use, it can open many formats, has many playback features and options. Jul 12, 2021 Elmedia is a powerful multifunctional Mac media player that supports a wide range of formats, including WMV, FLV, MOV, MP4, and AVI, only to mention but a few. With this player, you can play WMV files directly without the need for conversion, download both movies and videos, and easy creation and management of playlists. MPlayerX for Mac. Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.7 or above MPlayerX is one of the fastest choices to play MPEG (damaged MPEG files included), MP4, AVI, ASF, WMV, MOV, WAV, OGG/OGM, CD audio, etc. Plus, this best media player for Mac supports multi-touch, gesture, auto-encode subtitles, and online YouTube/Vimeo playback.
After trying out 45 different free WMV player apps on Windows and Mac, and have come up with this best 10 list. Read on and find the best one from the list for you.
Part 1. Best 10 Free WMV Video Player for Windows and Mac
Windows Media Player (Windows)
Windows Media Player can be the official WMV player from Microsoft. It is available for Windows-based devices like Windows computers, Windows phones, etc. Besides the WMV supports, it also supports other formats’ playback like H.264, AVCHD (MTS/M2TS), MP4, MOV, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, 3GP, etc. Moreover, it can play DVDs on a Windows computer.
Its sync feature allows you to connect, share, and sync media files with portable handheld devices and game consoles.
There’s only one caveat: The interface of Windows Media Player remains unchanged and old style.
Vidmore Player (Windows/Mac)
Vidmore Player is an easy-to-use media player. It has a wide range of video and audio format support. Compatible with all the video codecs (WMV7, WMV8, WMV9, VC-1) of WMV, it plays WMV files smoothly on the computer. Apart from that, it can also play MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, MP3, WMA, WAV, etc., even the 4K videos are supported. To manage your WMV files playback, you can create a playlist to navigate the videos quickly.
The added bonus of this WMV video player is that you can upgrade to play Blu-ray and DVD movies from any region on Mac and PC.
VLC Media Player (Windows/Mac/Linux/Android/iOS)
VLC Media Player is an open-source media player that can play almost all media files including WMV, MP4, MOV, etc. This application is designed as a player to play video, audio, DVD, and Blu-ray. One of its highlights is VLC Media player is working across the platform, and you can play WMV videos on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android phone.
There are other features you can benefit from VLC that are recording a WMV video, converting a WMV video, and ripping a DVD movie to save as a WMV video.
GOM Media Player (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
GOM Media Player is a free media player that supports various formats like WMV, AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV, etc. Different from other WMV player, this WMV file player software can automatically search and sync the subtitles for the movie being played from its subtitle library. Beyond that, it can play 360-degree videos in your possession. In other words, you can play a WMV video in 360° with your VR device.
For Windows users, this software also allows you to find codecs to play damaged files.
5KPlayer (Windows, Mac)
5KPlayer, is a mixture of the free UHD video player, music player, and online downloader. With this free WMV player, you can play 4K/1080p and 360° videos. Like VLC, it also supports DVD playback and IPTV. One more feature of this free WMV video player is that it can wirelessly stream video and audio via AirPlay & DLNA.
It’s also noteworthy to point out that the installation process of this freeware is very slow, and you should wait patiently, and its interface may be confusing for beginners.
Media Player Classic (Windows)
Media Player Classic, also named as Media Player Classic - Home Cinema (MPC-HC), is a free MWV media player for Windows. Like other players listed on this page, it supports all common video and audio files. Based on the original Guliverkli project, this free player contains many additional features and bug fixes. This tool also adds the feature to custom toolbars.
One playback feature that other WMV players do not contain is that it supports TV programs recording and playback if you plug a supported TV tuner card.
One thing you should know is that MPC-HC was discontinued in 2017.
KMPlayer (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
KM Player is a free HD video player. It supports WMV videos in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. Like most WMV video player, it supports playback settings for the subtitles, playback speed, etc. Also, its equalizer lets you enjoy rich audio easily. While playing a media file, it allows users to record a video, audio, and take a screenshot.
Moreover, KMPlayer lets you select parts of a video as favorites, do various A-B repeats, remap the keys, overlay screen controls, etc.
We should make it a point to note that the 3D format was discontinued in March 2015 from KMPlayer.
RealPlayer (Windows)
RealPlayer, formerly RealAudio Player, RealOne Player, and RealPlayer G2, is a free cross-platform WMV media player application. Supporting the most popular formats, it can play WMV videos on Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix, etc. It is an old media player dated back to 1995, and now has developed many new features like video downloader, web browser, visualizations, equalizer, CD ripping, media converter, etc.
However, some Windows 10 users report an installation failure. This WMV player maybe not stable on Windows 10 computer.
MPlayer (Windows/Mac/Linux/Android)
MPlayer is an open-source media player that runs on many systems. Apart from the common video and audio playback for WMVASF/WMA, AVI, MPEG/VOB, QT/MOV/MP4, you can also use this free WMV player to watch CD, SVCD, and DVD. Another great feature of MPlayer is the wide range of supported output drivers like X11, Xv, DGA, OpenGL, SVGAlib, fbdev, AAlib, DirectFB, etc.
The last update date of this WMV player was on April 18, 2019, and the free software offers no service support.
PotPlayer (Windows)
PotPlayer is a free WMV player with enhanced H/W acceleration by using DXVA, CUDA, QuickSync. Apart from 2D video playback, it also supports 3D playback using your 3DTV or PC. While playing WMV movies, this freeware offers various settings to optimize your playback experience through subtitles, video effects, audio, filters, display ratio, frame, etc.
Though it is a free video player, it gives you more control of WMV playback via its customization.
Part 2. FAQs of WMV Player
Can you download Windows Media Player on a Mac?
Yes, you can. Mac users can download Windows Media Player version 9 on Mac. However, Microsoft has cancelled the Mac version development since Windows Media Player 9.
Can you play WMV files on a Mac?
Yes, apart from downloading a WMV player on Mac listed on this page, there are other 2 methods to play WMV files on Mac. 1. You can download Windows Media Components for QuickTime to play Windows Media files. 2. Convert WMV to QuickTime supported MP4, or MOV.
Wmv Video Player Mac
Can WMV play on Android?
No. WMV format is not supported natively on most Android devices. If you want to play WMV files on Android phone, you need to install a WMV player APK on Android. Or convert WMV to Android natively supported video formats like MP4, 3GP, etc., with a video converter.
Conclusion
WMV is the widely accepted format on Windows Media Player, and it can be opened on Windows Media Player. For one reason or another, Windows Media Player is not the best solution to play WMV videos and other movies on PC and Mac. This page collects the best 10 WMV player on Windows and Mac. You can read the review of them and pick up the best one as you need.
Leave your recommended WMV player, if you have any good suggestion.
Before meeting, you received several important files in WMV format from your boss, but you cannot open them on your Mac. After searching online, you knew that WMV files are not compatible with Mac OS.
Your teacher sent you some learning videos in .wmv format for your test. When you were ready to study, you found that your Mac cannot read the WMV files. You tried downloading several software, but finally failed.
Have you ever encountered a similar situation? If Yes, this article will help you solve the problem of playing WMV files on mac quickly.
What is WMV?
WMV, short for Windows Media Audio, is a compressed video format invented by Microsoft and a part of Windows media framework. WMV files usually contain audio information and video content. As a distinguished multimedia container, WMV can compress large files into small ones fast without losing quality.
WMV file can download and play at the same time, making it the most popular and famous file format. They are simple to open and store. Many media players can be used to watch videos that are stored in WMV format. With lots of advantages, it has been widely used for a long time. However, it can only be used in Microsoft system. That is to say, WMV files cannot be played on Mac, which makes APPLE users anxious.
Are there any possible solutions to this problem?
Of course yes! In the following part, fast and easy ways to play WMV files on Mac free will be introduced.
The Quickest Way to Play a WMV File on Mac
Cisdem Video Player
Among all the WMV players, the one that outperforms other competitors is Cisdem Video Player, which is the best media player for Mac that supports various formats, like WMV, MP3, MP4, MOV, M4A, MKV, FLV, and more. It can smoothly play 4K, 5K, and 1080P HD videos.
The best WMV player for Mac acts fast. When you play a video, it runs immediately without buffering, and you do not need to wait for loading. Being elaborately designed, the interface is neat, and you will not be interrupted by boring and annoying ads. You can enjoy the full screen of videos with high quality.
Besides, the screen-shot function helps you capture the wonderful moments. The snapshots will be stored neatly in the file. Most importantly, playing WMV files on mac via Cisdem Video Player is for free!
Advantages:
- support virtually all files formats
- fast reaction
- neat interface
- high quality of video
- no annoying ads
- for free
3 steps help you play WMV files on mac successfully by Cisdem Video Player.
Step 1. Download and install Cisdem Video Player. Click the button below, which is totally safe and free.
Free Download
Step 2. After installation, double-click on the icon and run the software.
Step 3. Drag the WMV file that you need into the arrow area, the media player will present the video immediately.
The operation is extremely simple! Once you install the application, you can open WMV files at any time.
Click the website, if you want to know more about Cisdem Video Player...
Best Free Wmv Player For Macbook Pro
5 Top Alternatives to Play WMV Files on Mac
In addition to Cisdem Video Player, there are some alternative solutions. According to the high quality of a good WMV player, we collect other 5 top-ranked software on Mac OS for your reference.
1. VLC Media Player
In terms of playing WMV files on Mac, VLC is a safe and free media player. This open source, multimedia player supports various kind of multimedia format, including DVD, CD, MP3, WMV, and almost anything that moves. With VLC, Mac owners can easily watch WMV videos. The play interface is friendly designed, and you can control the progress bar easily and drag it to a particular spot in the video.
Advantages:
- playback easily
- support a wide range of files formats
Here are steps that help you to view a WMV file for Mac OS by VLC.
Step 1. Download VLC, and install it.
Step 2. After a successful installation, you can open the software. Then, drag the WMV files that you need to the central area.
Step 3. Within one second, you can enjoy your video time!
2. 5KPlayer
5KPlayer, a free WMV player for Mac, is a comprehensive video player. It not only plays videos, music, DVD, live streaming, but also supports DLNA and AirPlay service. The media player can play 4k and 8k videos in different formats like MP3, MP4, WMV, MKV, WMA and more.
With a built-in video library, you can put all your WMV files in the library list, which means that you can play the video one by one. 5KPlayer also has some distinctive functions, like video cut, 360 degree playback, and bookmark.
Advantages:
- high video quality, especially for for 4K, 5K videos
- support AirPlay
- support download video/music from YouTube
The following are instructions about playing WMV files on mac by 5KPlayer.
Step 1. Install the application.
Step 2. Launch the software on your Mac, and you will see the interface below.
Step 3. Click “video”, choose a file from your Mac that you want to open.
By the way, if you want to watch videos from YouTube, you can click the red button “YouTube” from step 2, paste the URL from YouTube in the blank area, and download the video. The video will show on your desktop. Then, start your movie time!
3. IINA Player
As a modern media player for Mac OS, IINA has powerful functions. It puts more emphasis on user experience. Users can not only perform basic operations, like screen shot, control the progress bar, but also can adjust the speed of any video being played. For example, you can broadcast the video at low speed, two times faster, or even 16 times faster. Besides, the control of playback is easy and flexible. Furthermore, IINA supports picture-in-picture mode, which makes it possible to enjoy other videos simultaneously.
Advantages:
- excellent user’s experience
- picture-in-picture mode
- support local files, online streams, YouTube playlists
Playing WMV files on Mac via IINA Player is shown below.
Best Free Wmv Player For Mac Downloads
Step 1. Install the smartly developed software.
Step 2. Once installed, double click the IINA icon on your Mac. The colorful and neat interface emerges.
Step 3. Click “Open”, choose the WMV file that you are going to play.
4. MPlayer OSX Extended
Best Free Wmv Player For Mac Os
MPlayer OSX Extended is a small but improved version based on the MPlayer OSX. It is designed to deliver a powerful player for OSX. After fundamental changes, it successfully becomes a modern and easy to use player. The player owns a variety of functions such as adjusting the size of the video interface, screenshot, easy control of the progress bar. However, the developer of the software has announced that MPlayer OSX Extended has been retired and will not be updated.
Disadvantages:
- will not receive future update
- hard to find the exact button to operate
The method of playing WMV files with MPlayer OSX Extended is demonstrated as follow.
Step 1. Install the software.
Step 2. When you launch the player, you will find that the interface is extremely small.
Step 3. Find the “File” button in the top left corner, and click “open” button to choose the WMV files that you need to play. Then, you can successfully play the video.
5. Playing WMV files on Mac by a Converter
Converting the format of files is also a good way to play WMV files on Mac for free. Through a converter, you can change the files into other formats that your Mac can be compatible with. For example, you can convert WMV into MP4, MOV, and MKV which are supported by your Mac.
If you want to open WMV files online rather than install a third party tool, Cloudconvert, a free WMV converter for Mac, is strongly recommended. It supports popular video and audio formats including WMV, WKV, MOV, MP4, AVI and more. The process of conversion is finished online. It works fast and the best possible quality of video or radio is kept.
Advantages:
- without installing software
- supports conversion of various formats
- fast conversion speed
- no quality loss
How to play a WMV file through Cloudconvert for Mac? The following are instructions.
Step 1. Open cloudconvert website.
Step 2. Click the red button in the central area of the page, choose the WMV files that you need to play. Then, choose a format which is compatible with your Mac. Usually, MP4, MOV, AVI are preferred choices.
Step 3. When the conversion is finished, you can watch your video on your Mac. Also, you can download the video by clicking the green button “Download” in the lower right corner. By doing this, the file can be stored on your Mac and you can open it at any time.
Generally speaking, converters usually take some time to finish the conversion process. It means that you have to wait for some time if the video itself is long. Among all the methods of playing WMV files on mac for free, converting the format is not an efficient way. So, why not just choose a tool that can play WMV files directly? Your time can be saved.
Related Questions
1. If I install Flip4Mac for QuickTime, is it helpful to play WMV files on Mac?
No, it is no longer helpful.
As we all know, QuickTime is a built-in video player in Mac OS. Most of Mac users play videos in QuickTime, but unfortunately, it can not play WMV files. If you are used to using QuickTime and do not want to change a media player, a smart component called Flip4Mac can help you. Flip4Mac is an excellent tool for QuickTime. With it, you can play WMV and WMA files via QuickTime directly and efficiently.
However, “Flip4Mac service has ended” appears in the process of installation. From now on, it cannot be installed. So, do not waste your time to download Flip4Mac for QuickTime any more. In the information provided, a software called Switch is recommended, which help you convert WMV into other formats.
2. Can I play WMV files with Window Media Player?
No, you cannot.
Window Media Player is a media player developed by Microsoft. The company once released a version for Mac OS. However, lacking support for many media formats, the software was discontinued and canceled. Microsoft has ceased its development for Mac Since 2006. Therefore, playing WMV files on mac via Windows Media Player does not work.
3. What criteria can be referenced when choosing a software for playing WMV files on Mac?
There are multiple WMV players for mac, but how can we choose the best one and the most suitable one? We can take the following assessment criteria into consideration:
- has a neat interface
- supports a wide range of video formats
- has high video quality even in a full screen mode
- no ads
- has additional functions like screen shot
- for free
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cisdem Video Player is the best solution to play WMV files on Mac. It is not only popularly used, but also the most worthy of trust. Apart from Cisdem Video Player, other 5 applications mentioned are excellent methods to play a WMV file for Mac OS. After reading the article, you must have an answer about how to read a WMV file on Mac. If you have WMV files that are urgent to play now, have a try! You won’t be disappointed!