The video is dropped
The MP3 has no picture. In our test the output held a single audio stream and no video, so a 388 kB clip with video came out as a 97 kB audio file.
WMV to MP3 Converter
You get an MP3 with the sound of your WMV video. The picture is dropped, and the file plays on almost any phone, car stereo or music app.
To convert WMV to MP3, add the WMV file, keep MP3 as the output format and download the result. The video is dropped and the sound is encoded again as MP3, so you end up with an audio-only file. In our test a 388 kB WMV became a 97 kB MP3, though other files will differ. If the WMV holds several audio tracks only the first is used, and a DRM-protected WMV is expected to fail.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the MP3 file once before you share it.
FromWMVLossy
WMV (Windows Media Video)
A WMV is an ASF file that wraps Windows Media video, usually with Windows Media Audio. For this conversion only the sound stream matters, and the converter ignores the picture. Our test file held wmv2 video and wmav2 stereo sound at 128 kb/s.
ToMP3Lossy
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III)
MP3 stores sound only. Phones, car stereos, music apps and editors open it, so it is the usual choice when you want the audio of a video as a file of its own.
A 6-second WMV test clip (wmv2 video, stereo WMA audio) made by us, converted on indox.org
- WMVthe original, 6.05 s, wmv2 video with stereo WMA audio at 128 kb/s
- 388 kB
- MP3from indox, 24.9% of the size, 6.03 s, 44.1 kHz stereo at 128 kb/s, no video
- 97 kB
Why use indox to convert WMV to MP3?
Bitrate follows the source
In our test a stereo WMA track at 128 kb/s gave a 128 kb/s stereo MP3, and a mono track at 96 kb/s gave a 64 kb/s mono MP3. Sample rate stayed at 44.1 kHz in both.
Title and artist tags carry over
Our test WMV had title and artist tags, and both were present as ID3 tags on the MP3. The encoder tag was rewritten.
The first audio track is used
Some WMV files hold more than one audio track. The converter takes the first one and leaves the others out, so check which track you need before you convert.
Nothing to install
The conversion runs in your browser tab on indox servers. Windows, Mac and phones all work the same way, and no codec pack or desktop program is needed.
What happens to your file
Stays
- The length of the recording, give or take a few hundredths of a second in our test
- The sample rate and the number of channels
- Title and artist tags, in our test
- Your original WMV, which is not touched
Changes
- The video is removed, so there is no picture
- The audio is encoded again as MP3
- Only the first audio track is kept
- DRM protection, which blocks the conversion altogether
MP3 or WAV for the sound of a WMV?
| Compared on | MP3 | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Small | Much larger, as WAV is usually uncompressed |
| Extra loss of quality | A second lossy step after the WMA | No new lossy step |
| Best for | Listening on phones, cars and players | Editing, mixing and archiving |
| Where to convert | This page | WMV to WAV |
How do I convert WMV to MP3 online?
- 1
Add your WMV file
Drop the WMV on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original, because the MP3 is a second compression of the sound and cannot be turned back into the WMV.
- 2
Confirm MP3 and start
Check that MP3 is the output format and start the conversion. In our test a 6-second, 388 kB clip took 3.7 seconds from the click to Completed. Longer files take longer.
- 3
Download the MP3
When the page shows Completed, download the file. It is a normal MP3 that your phone, computer or car stereo can play.
- 4
Listen before you delete anything
Play the MP3 once, especially if the WMV had more than one audio track. If the sound is the wrong track, the other one cannot be picked on this page.
What do I get from indox's WMV to MP3 converter?
You hand over a WMV and take away an MP3 of its sound. Nothing is installed, and our test ran without an account. The page lists what is lost, which track is used and which files fail.
- An MP3 with the title and artist tags kept, in our test
- Nothing to install on Windows, Mac or a phone
- Results measured on a real test clip, with sizes and bitrates
- What changes and what fails, stated up front
What are the limits for WMV to MP3?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
WMV in, MP3 out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- The sound is compressed twice. WMA to MP3 is lossy to lossy, so a small drop in fidelity is possible and the MP3 never improves on the source. If you plan to edit the sound afterwards, convert to [WAV](/convert/wmv-to-wav) instead.
- Only the first audio track is used. In our two-track test the MP3 held the 440 Hz track and left out the 880 Hz one. There is no way on this page to choose a different track.
- A DRM-protected WMV is expected to fail. We did not test a protected file, and we found no handling for protected files in the converter, so do not count on it working.
- The output has no picture. If you need the video as well, use [WMV to MP4](/convert/wmv-to-mp4).
- We tested files of about 400 kB and saw no size limit on the page. We have not tested large files and cannot state a size limit, so very large videos may be easier to handle with a desktop tool.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The conversion fails | The WMV may be protected with DRM, or the file is damaged | Check that the WMV plays in the software that holds its licence, or try another copy of the file |
| You hear the wrong sound | The WMV has several audio tracks and only the first is used | Remove or reorder the tracks in a desktop tool such as VLC or ffmpeg first, then convert |
| The MP3 is quieter or poorer than you hoped | The sound was compressed a second time, and a mono source gave a 64 kb/s MP3 in our test | Keep the WMV as your master, and use WAV if you plan to edit |
| You need the picture too | MP3 cannot hold video | Use WMV to MP4 |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to WMV to MP3?
WMV vs MP3: what is the difference?
| Compared on | WMV | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Video and audio together in one ASF file | Sound only |
| Typical codecs | Windows Media Video with Windows Media Audio | MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) |
| Where it plays | Windows; many Mac, phone and web players need extra software | Nearly every phone, car stereo, music app and editor |
| Compression | Lossy for both picture and sound | Lossy |
| Converting between them | The picture is dropped and the sound is encoded again | Cannot be turned back into the original WMV |
Who can use a WMV to MP3 converter?
When to use it
- Putting the soundtrack of a Windows Media clip on a phone or MP3 player.
- Keeping the voices from a family video recorded on an old camcorder.
- Pulling the audio of a recorded talk or lecture so it can be played without the video.
- Making a small audio copy of a WMV before sending it by email or chat.
- Opening a WMV soundtrack in a music app that does not read Windows Media Audio.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- WMV (Windows Media Video) format descriptionLibrary of Congress
- FFmpeg Codecs Documentation: libmp3lameFFmpeg
Facts checked on November 4, 2026
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WMV to MP3 FAQs
How do I convert WMV to MP3?
Add the WMV file to the converter in your browser, keep MP3 as the output and download the result. Nothing is installed, and in our test no sign-up was needed.
Is a WMV file an audio file?
No. WMV is a video format built on the ASF container, and its audio is a stream inside it. That is why converting to MP3 means extracting that stream and encoding it again, while the picture is dropped.
Does converting WMV to MP3 lose quality?
A little can be lost. The sound in a WMV is usually Windows Media Audio, which is lossy, and MP3 is lossy as well, so the audio is compressed a second time. If you want to edit it afterwards, choose WAV instead.
What bitrate will the MP3 have?
In our test, with no bitrate set, a stereo 128 kb/s WMA track gave a 128 kb/s MP3, and a mono 96 kb/s track gave a 64 kb/s MP3. Other files may land elsewhere, so check the result.
Which audio track is used when the WMV has several?
The first one. In our test with a 440 Hz and an 880 Hz track, the MP3 held only the 440 Hz sound. The page offers no way to choose another track.
Are the title and artist tags kept?
In our test, yes. The title and artist of the WMV were present as ID3 tags on the MP3. The encoder tag changed to the one used by the converter.
Will a protected WMV convert?
Expect it to fail. A WMV locked with DRM is tied to a licence, and we found no handling for it in the converter. We did not test a protected file.
How long does the conversion take?
In our test a 6-second, 388 kB WMV took 3.7 seconds from the click to Completed. Larger or longer files take more time, and we have not timed those.
Can I rename a .wmv file to .mp3 instead?
No. The name is only a label. The file would still hold Windows Media data, and most players would refuse it or play nothing. The sound has to be encoded as MP3.
How do I convert WMV to MP3 on Windows 10?
Windows 10 needs nothing extra. Open the converter in any browser, add the WMV and download the MP3. The same steps work on a Mac or a phone.