'I just switched to a Mac and I'm having trouble opening certain videos. All software is up to date including QuickTime. Is there a way I can watch my old WMV videos on Mac?'
If you are a Mac user, you will sometimes run into content in WMV format that you may want to play on your Apple device. Unfortunately, Microsoft discontinued Windows Media Player for Mac back in 2006, which means the proprietary codecs of WMV are no longer supported and won't open on Mac OS. Don't worry, here we collect a few easy solutions that help to convert WMV video on Mac.
Part 1. Recommended WMV Converter to Convert WMV on Mac
Without further ado, we'd like to recommend Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate), with which you can easily and quickly convert WMV to QuickTime compatible formats like MOV, AVI and MP4 on both Mac and Windows system. Furthermore, it not only converts between over 1000 video and audio formats but offers optimized presets allowing you to enjoy WMV videos directly on Mac, iPhone, iPad, or edit it on iMovie and Final Cut Pro.
Sep 29, 2017 MXF Converter Pro 9.8.8 for Mac is free to download from our application library. This Mac app was originally designed by AmazingShare. The latest installation package occupies 26.1 MB on disk. The software is included in Audio & Video Tools. Our antivirus analysis shows that this Mac download is malware free. Step 3: Start converting WMV to MPEG for Mac. Now what you need to do is to click the 'Convert' button at the bottom and you are on your way! The Mac app will convert.wmv videos to.mpg format in Mac in the fastest way. A conversion output window will open and display the progress you can follow. Nov 26, 2018 Play WMV on Mac – Convert WMV to Mac Compatible Format If you choose to use a video converter, you do not need to download another video player. After converting the WMV videos to Mac friendly format like MP4, MOV, you will be able to play the converted video use the default movie and video player on Mac, QuickTime Player, to play the. Jul 24, 2019 Part 2. WMV Players for Mac #1. One of the most powerful and popular WMV media players available for Mac. VLC is an open source utility which allows you to play almost any video codec you can think of, including WMVs. Reliable, stable, and fast, VLC is a great option for playing any media files on Mac. Coverted.WMV file to my Mac OS 10X.MOV This is a free app. I converted three.WMV files so I can run them on my Macbook Pro OS X. This software gives you a ton of choices on the type of conversion you want. I convert to.MOV I found under All Profiles. The software converted the three files in seconds, for each file.
Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate)
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How to Convert WMV to Mac Supported Format with Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate)
First of all, you need to download Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) on your Mac, make sure you're downloading the corresponding Mac version. Then launch the decent Mac video converter and follow the steps below.
Step 1 Click the + Add Files in the top-left to import the target WMV video you want to play on Mac, or directly drag and drop it to Wondershare WMV converter for Mac.
Note: Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) supports batch conversion, which means you can convert multiple WMV files at one time.
Step 2 To successfully play WMV videos on Mac, we need to choose Mac compatible format as output format here. Go to Target section and click to expand the full list of output format, then choose Video & MP4 and select a resolution in the right.
Step 3 Click Convert All would start converting WMV to Mac format right away. Once the WMV conversion for Mac finishes, you can switch to the Converted tab to get the converted WMV video file that is fully compatible with Mac OS.
Part 2. 3 Quick Solutions to Play WMV Video on MacSolution 1: Updating VLC to the Latest Version
If you haven't used VLC in a while, your video player might be outdated. To update VLC, launch it on your Mac and then click Check for Updates on the main menu. If an update is available, the program will ask for your permission to install it. Click Yes to start downloading the update. After a successful download, the install wizard will again ask for permission to continue. Click Install to finish updating VLC.
After updating to the latest version of VLC, try playing your WMV file to see if it works.
Solution 2: Removing DRM Protection
Microsoft uses DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology to protect copyrighted media files from piracy. If you purchase or download WMV movies from Windows Media Player Center, Amazon Video on Demand, BBC iPlayer, or other video stores, the video files are likely to have a DRM protection and you will only be able to play them on Microsoft software.
Convert Wmv Mac
The only way to play DRM protected WMV video on Mac is to first remove DRM restriction. To do this, download and install DRM removal software. Keep in mind that even if you don’t intend to share or otherwise distribute the content, removing DRM might violate the Terms of Use you agreed to when you purchased the file.
Solution 3: Installing WMV Plugin on Mac
Another solution to playing WMV on Mac is installing a plugin that supports Windows media formats. The most popular of these is Flip4Mac. This free plugin from Telestream allows QuickTime player to open WMV and WMA files. It also supports WMV in Safari, Firefox, and Chrome and features a clean, easy to use interface.
While a good solution for many, this plugin isn't currently supported by Snow Leopard, Yosemite, or El Capitan. Users running Lion and Mountain Lion also claim it doesn't work.
Part 3. 3 QuickTime Alternatives to Play WMV Video on Mac1. Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate)
You don't need to install other media players if you already have Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) on your system. This application features a solid built-in player that is capable of handling all the popular formats available today. Powered by advanced audio and video technology, this media player will give you an amazing cinema-like experience with superior control over video, sound, and subtitle settings.
To play a video on Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate), simply drag and drop your video file on the interface and then click on the video thumbnail to start playing the video.
2. VLC Media Player
VLC is a popular cross-platform media player that can effortlessly handle WMV video. It is also capable of playing a wide range of other video and audio formats. The only drawback of VLC for Mac is that users may need to search, download, and install additional codec packages in order to allow VLC to open WMV files.
3. 5KPlayer
This is a free media player for Mac that is capable of playing WMV videos without the need of installing extra third-party plug-ins. In addition to WMV video format, 5KPlayer for Mac can also play most mainstream video and audio formats including WMA, AVI, MOV, MP3, MKV, MP4, FLV, 3GP, MOV, DivX, AAC, FLAC, OGG and more.
WMV is short for Windows Media Video, one of the most popular video formats available today. It was developed by Microsoft to be a standard media format for all Microsoft Supported devices and operating systems, and to rival RealNetwork's RealVideo formats. A major advantage of WMV over other file formats is the high compression ratio that allows it to significantly reduce video file sizes without compromising quality. This makes it a good choice for streaming and sharing video files across the internet.
So, you’ve decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac’s performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we’ll explain where to get one and what problems you may face down the road.
A list of all Mac OS X versions
We’ll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.
STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation
Given your Mac isn’t new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have “fuel” to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.
Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free up space on your drive:
Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size
Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage. If you aren’t comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic “room cleaners”. Our favorite is CleanMyMac as it’s most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.
Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)
Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)
Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)
STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download
Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That’s why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your computer.
How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store![]() If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you’ll find all the installers you can download. However, it doesn’t always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:
This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.
Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer
If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.
Purchase an older version of Mac operating system
You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.
Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7 Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8
The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of it.
How to get macOS El Capitan download
If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it’s possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should take:
1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update. 3. Download El Capitan here. “I can’t download an old version of Mac OS X”
If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don’t expect it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.
But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.
After you’ve completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.
STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive
The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.
Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is “captured” onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.
Wmv Converter For Mac
Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.
How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions
If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Sierra
Instruction to downgrade from macOS High Sierra
Download Wmv For Mac Os X 10 11
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Mojave
Download Wmv For Mac Os X 10 13 Download
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina
Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).
Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X versionOpen Wmv On Mac
If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.
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