Convert WMV to MKV Online Free
WMV is a Microsoft video format optimised for Windows playback and older streaming. MKV is a flexible open container that can hold multiple video, audio, and subtitle tracks. FileConverter turns your WMV into MKV online in seconds - free, privacy-first, and with no software to install or account to create.
Convert WMV to MKV
MKV is already selected. Add your WMV file to start.
Documents
Images
Videos
Audio
Add a WMV file above to start the conversion.
Converting WMV to MKV migrates Windows Media footage into an open container with a long future — a sensible move when decommissioning old corporate video libraries into an archive that VLC will still open decades from now.
What changes when you convert WMV to MKV
This re-encodes your footage from the WMV container into MKV, which can change the underlying codec and file size. At sensible settings quality is well preserved, but converting from a higher-quality WMV source always produces a better MKV result. Trim long clips first if you only need part of the footage.
About the WMV format
WMV offers decent compression and was common on Windows and in older PowerPoint embeds. It has poor support on Apple and mobile devices, so converting to MP4 improves compatibility. In everyday use, WMV is chosen for legacy Windows video and presentations and older streaming and download archives. It opens in Windows Media Player and VLC.
About the MKV format
Matroska is popular for high-quality films and archives because it can bundle many audio languages, subtitle tracks, and chapters in one file. It is great for storage but not natively supported by many phones or web players. In everyday use, MKV is chosen for high-quality film archives and multi-language and multi-subtitle collections. It opens in VLC and most desktop media players.
WMV vs MKV
WMV is best known for compact files on Windows, while MKV stands out for stores multiple audio, video, and subtitle tracks. Choosing between them comes down to where the file needs to go next.
Common use cases
People convert WMV to MKV for jobs such as high-quality film archives and multi-language and multi-subtitle collections. It is especially common when a WMV file arrives from one system but needs to work in another that standardises on MKV.
When to convert WMV to MKV
Reach for WMV to MKV when your destination expects MKV — for example high-quality film archives and multi-language and multi-subtitle collections. It is the right move when you receive a WMV file but the app, website, or person you are working with cannot use it. Bear in mind that limited native support on mobile and browsers, so keep your original WMV if you might need it again.
How to convert WMV to MKV
- Upload your WMV file to the converter at the top of this page - MKV is already selected as the output.
- Check the size limit shown on this page, then drag and drop or browse for your file.
- Confirm MKV is still the target format, or pick a different one from the grid.
- Start the conversion and download your MKV file the moment it is ready.
Quality tips
Keep one master WMV archived and convert copies. If the MKV file is for web playback, test it in the target browser or player; if you only need the sound, use our Extract Audio tool instead of a full video conversion.
Platform compatibility
The WMV to MKV converter runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS - anywhere with a modern browser, with no plugins or permissions required. Once exported, MKV opens in VLC and most desktop media players.
File size limits
Video/audio up to 2GB
Troubleshooting
- If the file exceeds the limit shown below, compress images, trim video, or split archives before retrying.
- If conversion fails, confirm the extension matches the real format — renaming a file alone does not change its contents.
- Very large videos process faster if you trim them first with our Video Trim tool.
- If quality looks soft, try a less aggressive setting when the converter offers options.
Explore more: video Conversion Hub · File format guides · All tools