WMA is Microsoft’s Windows Media audio format, still found in old music collections and voice recorders.
Typical use: WMA playback outside Windows is patchy — converting to MP3 rescues these libraries.
About the WMA format
WMA (Windows Media Audio) is Microsoft's MP3 competitor from 1999, best known for DRM-protected download stores in the 2000s. The family spans standard lossy WMA, WMA Pro (up to 24-bit/96 kHz) and WMA Lossless. On Windows it integrated seamlessly; everywhere else it required goodwill.
With Microsoft's own services having moved to AAC, WMA today is a conversion source: old music libraries and ripped CDs get converted to MP3/M4A/FLAC and the format is retired. WMA Lossless files should go to FLAC to preserve their losslessness.
Strengths
- ✓ Native Windows playback and tagging
- ✓ WMA Lossless preserves bit-perfect audio
Limitations
- ✗ Non-Windows support is poor
- ✗ Ecosystem abandoned by its creator
- ✗ DRM-legacy files may be unplayable
- Compression
- Lossy + Lossless variants
- Quality
- Respectable for its era
- Compatibility
- Windows-centric
- Best for
- Legacy Windows libraries
Convert WMA to…
27 direct directions plus 18 workflows, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.
Frequently asked questions
What is a WMA file?
WMA is Microsoft’s Windows Media audio format, still found in old music collections and voice recorders.
How do I convert WMA files online?
Pick a target format from the "Convert WMA to…" list below, drop your file and hit convert. Everything runs in your browser — no install, no upload, no watermark, no limits.
Is it safe to convert WMA files here?
Yes. Every conversion is performed by your own device inside the browser — files never leave for a server, and the page keeps working even offline.
Which formats can WMA convert to?
This page lists all 45 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.