SUMMARY
This article discusses the multimedia file types that
Microsoft Windows Media Player supports and provides a sample of most of these
file types. If problems occur when you play a supported file type from another
source, Microsoft recommends that you try a sample file from this article that
has the same extension. If you can play the sample file, there may be a problem
with the file from the other source that you are trying to play. If problems
still occur when you play files from this article, view the following Microsoft
Web site for additional information to help you troubleshoot your problem:
Supported file formats
Windows Media formats (.asf, .wma, .wmv,
.wm)
Advanced Systems Format (.asf)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
The Advanced Systems Format (ASF) is the preferred Windows Media
file format. With Windows Media Player, if the appropriate codecs are installed
on your computer, you can play audio content, video content, or both, that is
compressed with a wide variety of codecs and that is stored in an .asf file.
Additionally, you can stream audio and video content with Windows Media
Services, or you can package that content with Windows Media Rights
Manager.
ASF is an extensible file format that stores synchronized
multimedia data. It supports data delivery over a wide variety of networks and
protocols. It is also suitable for local playback. ASF supports advanced
multimedia capabilities including extensible media types, component download,
scalable media types, author-specified stream prioritization, multiple language
support, and extensive bibliographic capabilities that include document and
content management.
Typically, ASF files that contain audio content
that is compressed with the Windows Media Audio (WMA) codec use the .wma
extension. Similarly, ASF files that contain audio content, video content, or
both, that is compressed with Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video
(WMV) codecs use the .wmv extension. Finally, content that is compressed with
any other codec use the generic .asf extension. For more information about ASF,
visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Windows Media Audio (.wma)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Audio (.wma) files are Advanced Systems Format
(.asf) files that include audio that is compressed with the Windows Media Audio
(WMA) codec. By using a separate extension, users can install multiple players
on their computer and associate certain players with the .wma extension for
playback of audio-only sources.
Windows Media Video (.wmv, .wm)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Video (.wmv) files are Advanced Systems Format
(.asf) files that include audio, video, or both compressed with Windows Media
Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV) codecs. By using a separate
extension, you can install multiple players on your computer and associate
certain players with the .wmv extension for playback of audio and video
sources.
Windows Media Metafiles (.asx, .wax, .wvx, .wpl)
Advanced Stream Redirector (.asx)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Advanced Stream Redirector (.asx) files, also known as Windows
Media Metafiles, are text files that provide information about a file stream
and its presentation. ASX files go beyond the simple task of defining playlists
to provide Windows Media Player with information about how to present
particular media items of the playlist.
Windows Media Metafiles are
based on XML syntax and can be encoded in either ANSI or UNICODE (UTF-8)
format. They are made up of various elements with their associated tags and
attributes. Each element in a Windows Media metafile defines a particular
setting or action in Windows Media Player.
ASX files can point to any
media file type that Windows Media Player recognizes and supports.
For more information about Windows Media Metafiles, visit the
following Microsoft Web site:
Windows Media Audio Redirector (.wax)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Audio Redirector (.wax) files are Windows Media
Metafiles that reference Windows Media Audio (.wma) files.
Windows Media Video Redirector (.wvx)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Video Redirector (.wvx) files are Windows Media
Metafiles that reference Windows Media Video (.wmv) files
Windows Media Redirector (.wmx)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Redirector (.wmx) files are Windows Media
Metafiles that reference Windows Media Audio (.wma), Windows Media Video (.wmv)
files, or both.
Windows Media Player Playlist (.wpl)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Player Playlist (.wpl) files are client-side
playlists that are written in a proprietary format. Microsoft introduced this
file format in Windows Media Player 9 Series. The .wpl format can create
dynamic playlists, whereas .asx and .m3u formats cannot. In Windows Media
Player 9 Series, the auto playlist feature uses the .wpl format. The .wpl
format is the default file format used for playlists that you save in Windows
Media Player 9 Series.
Microsoft Digital Video Recording (.dvr-ms)
In Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft introduced
the *.dvr-ms file format for storing recorded TV content. Similar to *.asf
files, *.dvr-ms file enhancements permit key Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
functionality, including time-shifting, live pause, and simultaneous record and
playback. Video contained in a *.dvr-ms file is encoded as MPEG-2 video stream,
and the audio contained in the *.dvr-ms file is encoded as MPEG-1 Layer II
audio stream.
To play back unprotected *.dvr-ms files on Windows
XP-based computers, you must have the following software and hardware
components:
- Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or
later.
- The update that is documented in the following article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base must be installed on the computer:
For more
information, click the following article number to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
810243
DirectShow playback support for files recorded with Windows XP Media Center Edition
- A Windows XP-compatible DVD decoder.
For more information about *.dvr-ms files, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:
.
Windows Media Download Package (.wmd)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows Media Download (WMD) packages combine Windows Media
Player skin borders, playlist information, and multimedia content in a single
downloadable file that uses a .wmd extension. A .wmd package can include a
whole album of music videos that also displays advertising in the form of
graphical branding and links to an online music retailer Web site.
To
download a .wmd package from a Web site, click the link to the package. When
the package is downloaded to your computer, Windows Media Player automatically
extracts the files that are contained in the package, adds the playlists in the
package, adds the content to Media Library, displays the border skin in the
Now Playing pane of Windows Media Player (in full mode), and
then plays the first item in the playlist. For more information about .wmd
files, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Audio Visual Interleave (.avi)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Audio Video Interleave (AVI) is a special case of Resource
Interchange File Format (RIFF). AVI is defined by Microsoft. The .avi file
format is the most common format for audio and video data on a
computer.
Audio content or video content that is compressed with a
wide variety of codecs can be stored in an .avi file and played in Windows
Media Player, if the appropriate codecs are installed on the computer. Video
codecs that are frequently used in .avi files include the following codecs:
- DivX codec
For more information, visit the
following DivX Web site: - Cinepak codec
For more information, visit the
following Cinepak Web site: - Indeo codec
For more information, visit the
following Ligos Web site: - DV codec
- MJPEG codec
- Uncompressed RGB or YUY2 codec
Audio codecs that are frequently used in .avi files include the
following audio codecs:
- MP3 codec
- Microsoft Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (MS
ADPCM)
- Uncompressed Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) codec
Moving Pictures Experts Group (.mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .mp2,
.mp3, .mpa, .mpe, .mpv2, .m3u)
The Moving Picture Experts Group develop the Moving Picture
Experts Group (MPEG) standards. These standards are an evolving set of
standards for video and audio compression.
MPEG-1 (.mpeg, .mpg, .m1v)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
This standard permits the coding of progressive video at a
transmission rate of about 1.5 million bits per second (bps). This file format
was designed specifically for use with Video-CD and CD-i media. The most common
implementations of the MPEG-1 standard provides a video resolution of 352x240
at 30 frames per second (fps). When you use this standard, you receive a video
that is slightly lower-quality than typical VCR videos.
Files that use
the .m1v extension typically are MPEG-1 elementary streams that contain only
video information. Files that use .mpg or .mpeg extensions typically are MPEG-1
system streams that contain MPEG-1-encoded video and MPEG-1 Layer II
(MP2)-encoded audio.
However, MPEG-1 system streams do not
exclusively use the .mpg and .mpeg extensions. MPEG-2 program streams also
frequently use .mpg and .mpeg file extensions, but they contain MPEG-2-encoded
video. Because Microsoft Windows operating systems provide only an MPEG-1 video
decoder, Windows Media Player cannot play MPEG-2 program streams without an
additional MPEG-2 video decoder (also known as a DVD decoder pack) installed.
For more information about purchasing DVD decoder packs, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:
MPEG Audio Layer III (.mp3)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
This standard has also evolved from early MPEG work. It is an
audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
specifications. The Fraunhofer Institute developed MP3 in Germany in 1991. MP3
uses perceptual audio coding to compress CD-quality sound with almost the same
fidelity.
MPEG Audio Layer II (.mp2, .mpa)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
MPEG Audio Layer II is an audio-coding standard that was
originally developed as a part of the MPEG-1 specification and was later
updated for the MPEG-2 specification.
M3U (.m3u)Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
An .m3u file is a metafile playlist that references .mp3 files
and provides additional metadata for the items in the playlist.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (.mid, .midi,
.rmi)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a standard
protocol for the interchange of musical information between musical
instruments, synthesizers, and computers. This standard defines the codes for a
musical event that include the start of a note, its pitch, length, volume, and
musical attributes, such as vibrato. It also defines codes for various button,
dial, and pedal adjustments that are used on synthesizers.
Audio Interchange File Format ( .aif, .aifc, .aiff)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Apple Computer developed the Audio Interchange File Format
(AIFF) audio file format. You can use this format to store high-quality sampled
audio and musical instrument information.
Sun Microsystems and NeXT (.au, .snd)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Unix Audio (.au) files are UNIX-generated sound files.
A sound (.snd) file is an interchangeable sound file format that
is used on Sun, NeXt, and Silicon Graphics computers. The file typically
contains raw sound data that is followed by a text identifier.
Audio for Windows (.wav)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Windows uses the Wave Form Audio (WAV) file format to store
sounds as waveforms. One minute of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)-encoded sound
can occupy as little as 644 kilobytes (KB) or as much as 27 megabytes (MB) of
storage. This size of the storage space depends on the sampling frequency, the
type of sound (mono or stereo), and the number of bits that are used for the
sample.
Similar to the AVI and ASF format, WAV is only a file
container. Audio content that is compressed with a wide variety of codecs and
that is stored in a .wav file can be played back in Windows Media Player if the
appropriate codecs are installed on the computer. The most common audio codecs
that are used in .wav files include Microsoft Adaptive Differential Pulse Code
Modulation (MS ADPCM) and uncompressed Pulse Code Modulation (PCM).
CD Audio Track (.cda)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
CD Audio (.cda) tracks are audio files that are stored on CD
media. You can play .cda files only from a CD-ROM. As a result, a sample file
cannot be included in this article for you to play. To test a .cda file, either
try to play a different .cda file from your CD-ROM or try to play a .cda file
from a different CD-ROM. The .cda files are representations of CD audio tracks
and do not contain the actual pulse code modulation (PCM) information. You
cannot play the file if you copy a .cda file from the CD-ROM to your hard disk.
Indeo Video Technology (.ivf)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
Indeo Video Files (IVF) are video files that are encoded by
using the Indeo codec from Ligos Corporation. Indeo standards may change
frequently. To make sure that you can play files that are encoded with this
codec, make sure that you have the most current Indeo package. To verify that
you have the latest Indeo package, contact Ligos Corporation. To do so, visit
the following Ligos Web site:
To play an .ivf file, download the file to your hard disk before
you play it. To do so, follow these steps:
- Right-click the link to the .ivf file, and then click
Save Target As.
- Specify a location on your hard disk where you want to save
the file.
- Double-click the file that you saved to your hard disk to
play the file.
For more information, click the following article number to
view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
281919
"Unspecified Error" message when playing an Indeo Video Format (IVF) file
Windows Media Player Skins (.wmz, .wms)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
A Windows Media Player skin (.wms) definition file is an XML
text document that defines the elements that are present in a skin, their
relationships, and their functionality. A script creator creates the skin
definition file (.wms) and any associated JScript files (.js) that incorporate
the art elements and add functionality to the skin.
A .wmz file is a
compressed Zip archive that contains a Windows Media Player skin definition
file and associated Jscript files and its supporting graphic files.
QuickTime Content (.mov, .qt)
Versions of Windows Media Player that support this file type:
- Windows Media Player 7
- Windows Media Player for Windows XP
- Windows Media Player 9 Series
Apple Computer developed the QuickTime file format to create,
edit, publish, and view multimedia files. QuickTime format can contain video,
animation, graphics, 3D and virtual reality (VR) content. Only QuickTime files
version 2.0 or earlier can be played in Windows Media Player. Later versions of
QuickTime require the proprietary Apple QuickTime Player. For more information,
visit the following Apple Web site:
File formats that are not supported
RealNetworks content (.ra, .rm, .ram)
RealNetworks content is created by software that is developed by
RealNetworks. The content is compressed with proprietary RealVideo and
RealAudio codecs and is stored in a file format developed by RealNetworks. To
play RealNetworks content, obtain the RealOne player. To do so, visit the
following RealNetworks Web site:
QuickTime content (.mov, .qt)
Apple Computer developed the QuickTime file format to create,
edit, publish, and view multimedia files. QuickTime format can contain video,
animation, graphics, 3D and virtual reality (VR) content. Only QuickTime files
version 2.0 or earlier can be played in Windows Media Player. Later versions of
QuickTime require the proprietary Apple QuickTime Player. For more information,
visit the following Apple Web site:
MPEG-4 (.mp4)
MPEG-4 is an International Standards Organization (ISO)
specification that covers many aspects of multimedia presentation including
compression, authoring and delivery. Although video compression and file
container definition are two separate and independent entities of the MPEG-4
specification, many people incorrectly believe that the two are
interchangeable. You can implement only portions of the MPEG-4 specification
and remain compliant with the standard.
The MPEG-4 file format, as
defined by the MPEG-4 specification, contains MPEG-4 encoded video and Advanced
Audio Coding (AAC)-encoded audio content. It typically uses the .mp4 extension.
Windows Media Player does not support the playback of the .mp4 file format. You
can play back .mp4 media files in Windows Media Player when you install
DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs. DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4
decoder packs include the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player and the EnvivioTV.
For
more information about the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player, visit the following Ligos Web
site:
For more information about EnvivioTV , visit the following Envivio
Web site:
Microsoft has chosen to implement the video compression portion
of the MPEG-4 standard. Microsoft has currently produced the following
MPEG-4-based video codecs:
- Microsoft MPEG-4 v1
- Microsoft MPEG-4 v2
- Microsoft MPEG-4 v3
- ISO MPEG-4 v1
MPEG-4 video content can be encoded and stored in an .asf file
container by using Windows Media Tools and Windows Media Encoder. You can then
play these files in Windows Media Player. For more information about Microsoft
and MPEG-4 support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
How do I determine what type of file I am
playing?
To determine if the file that you are playing is compatible with
Windows Media Player, right-click the file that you want to play, and then
click
Properties. The file type is listed in the
Type of file box. The
third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies
that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or
otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you
find technical support. This contact information may change without notice.
Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact
information.