OS X doesn’t play Windows Media Video out of the box, but there are some quick downloads you can grab in order to watch WMV files on your Mac.
To search for Windows Media Video converters, type wmv into the search box, and then press Return. From the list of results, download and install the conversion software you want. In OneNote, go to the audio or video clip icon in your notes that you want to play, right-click (or Control-click) it, and then click Save As on the menu that appears. Introducing Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X. Sporting a new brushed steel skin for Apple's newest operating system, this new version of our player opens the world of Windows Media 9 content to Mac users, enabling them to access the best audio and video on the Web.
I recently made the switch from PC to Mac and everything is great, but one thing I am missing is Windows Media Video. Is there a way to play WMV on a Mac?
Yes it is possible to playback these types of files on a Mac. OS X doesn’t come with the software you need by default, but there quite a few downloads that can get the job done. A plug-in called “Flip4Mac” gives Quicktime the ability to play WMV files, VLC is a stand-alone cross-platform media player that can understand your Windows Media Video files, and if all else fails there is an old version of Windows Media Player for Mac OS X.
Contents
- Flip4Mac
- VLC media player
Flip4Mac
Windows Media Components for Quicktime go by the name Flip4Mac. This add-on will give Quicktime the capability to playback WMV videos. It’s distributed for free on Microsoft’s site:
Installation Instructions
- Download and open the Flip4Mac DMG file from Microsoft.
- Double-click the Flip4Mac WMV.mpkg file to launch the installation wizard.
- Click your way through the wizard’s screens, agreeing to the Terms of Service and choosing where to install. You will need to enter your administrator name & password at one point.
- The installer will let you know when it’s done, at which point you can hit the “Close” button.
- If Quicktime is open, quit the application then open it back up.
You will now be able to watch WMV files in Quicktime. Make sure to eject the “Flip4Mac” installation volume — hit the “Eject” button next to its name in the Finder sidebar.
Embedded Video
Installing Flip4Mac also makes it possible to watch streaming WMV videos in your web browser. There is no extra configuration necessary in order to make this happen. Just quit your browser after installing the plug-in, the start it back up and revisit any site containing a video you wanted to watch. It should play without a hitch.
Flip4Mac & DRM
One caveat of Flip4Mac is that it cannot play WMV video that uses Windows Media digital rights management, so some videos may not be accessible even though you’ve installed Flip4Mac.
VLC media player
VLC is a stand-alone media player like Quicktime and Windows Media Player. Many people prefer VLC because it is available for many different operating systems and is an open source software project supported by many dedicated programmers across the world.
All versions of VLC support the various formats you’re used to opening in Windows Media Player: WMV (video), WMA (audio) and ASF. You can get VLC from the VLC media player for Mac OS X download page.
Free Music Windows Media Player
There are a few different options on this page:
- 32 & 64 bit releases for Intel Macs (what most people have now)
- The “32/64 bits Intel Mac” version should work on most computers.
- Macs from 2006 or newer are 64 bit.
- The “Power PC” version is for older Macs dating back to the time before Apple switched from Motorola to Intel chips.
- Web plugins for Intel and PowerPC Macs, for viewing Windows Media Video embedded in web pages.
- Older VLC releases for previous releases of Mac OS X.
Once the .DMG file is downloaded double-click on it, wait for a Finder window to open, and then drag the VLC icon to your “Applications” folder.
Free Download Windows Media Player 2020
Make VLC the Default Media Player
If you like VLC enough to make it your default media player, follow these steps:
Wildlife Windows Media Player
- Right-click on any media file. If you don’t have a two-button mouse, hold the “control” key while clicking.
- Select Get Info.
- Expand the Open with: section.
- Choose VLC from the drop down menu.
- Click Change All…
Window Media Player for Mac
There used to be a version of Windows Media Player for Mac OS X, but it’s outdated and no longer available. Flip4Mac and VLC are much better options than this, so it should only be a last resort. Plus, it isn’t known to play well with recent versions of OS X.
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020
We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.
Download Windows Media Player
Get Windows Media Player for your version of Windows, or learn how to play Windows Media files on your Mac. Get the details here.
Get help
Find help and how-to information for your version of Windows Media Player. Learn about the features and how to fix problems.
Windows Media Player 12
Play a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
Burn and rip CDs
Codecs: frequently asked questions
Play a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
Burn and rip CDs
Codecs: frequently asked questions
If Windows Media Player stopped working correctly after the latest updates from Windows Update, you can verify that the updates are the problem by using System Restore. To do this:
- Select the Start button, and then type system restore.
- Select Create a restore point, and then in the System Properties pane, select System Restore.
- Follow the prompts to select the restore point just before the round of updates that seemed to trigger the problem. Then run the system restore process. (This takes a while.)
- After your system is restored to the earlier configuration, check to see whether Windows Media Player runs correctly again.
Windows Media Player Radio
For advanced video features like 4K, you might also want to try Microsoft Movies & TV. To download this for free from Microsoft Store, go to Movies & TV and select Get.
Windows Media Player Download For Laptop
Make it yours
Customize Windows Media Player with easily installed skins, visualizations, and plug-ins for a new look and extra features. Learn more.