Microsoft and Apple’s rivalry remains strong, so they don’t always make concessions and develop native apps for each other’s platforms. Thus, anyone who comes across WMV (Windows Media Video) files on Mac needs an alternative way to play them because your macOS can’t do it!
So, if you want to play WMV on Mac but don’t want to sift through the endless video players on the web, you’ll love this review; we did all the hard work for you and picked out seven great players for WMV files!
Each WMV player for Mac you see here is tried and true, so expect a smooth viewing experience when you use them to watch your videos. Alright, let’s begin!
Part 1. The Best WMV Video Player for Mac Free
We'll get right to the meat of this review and start off with Wondershare UniConverter. It’s easily the best tool for playing WMV on Mac, and we'll explain why.
You would be right to wonder why we’re calling a converter a player, but that’s because UniConverter is not just an excellent converter; it’s a suite rich with AI and video editing tools and a WMV player for Mac as well, and that’s our focus for today.
You can use UniConverter to play videos in WMV, MP4, MKV, AVI, and pretty much any other format. Since UniConverter doubles as a Mac WMV player, we’ll show you how easy it is to play WMV files using its built-in player. Just follow the steps below.
How to Play WMV Files on Mac with UniConverter
Step 1 Launch UniConverter
Download, install, and open UniConverter. Click “Player” (the fourth tool) on the software’s first interface.
Step 2 Load WMV File
Click the purple “Open Files” button to open a Finder window to locate the WMV file and double-click it. You can also drag and drop the file onto the WMV player for Mac.
Step 3 Play WMV File
For the last step, click the Play button to play WMV on Mac!
Pros
- The WMV video player Mac supports a vast audio and video formats library.
- Sports a user-friendly interface, making it accessible even to people with basic or limited tech expertise.
- Offers extra features like a video downloader, AI tools, and robust video editing features.
Cons
- While it offers a free plan, you won’t enjoy all the features without upgrading.
- The free version is great but has limitations like watermarks on the videos you convert.
- If you’re using a dated Mac computer and very old macOS, this Mac WMV player might be resource-intensive and a little hard on your system, slowing it down.
Supported OS
- Windows.
- macOS.
- iOS.
Pricing
- Free Trial: Free with limitations.
- Perpetual Plan: $39.99 (One-Time fee).
- Monthly Plan: $9.99/month.
- Yearly Plan: $29.99/year.
Part 2. Other Software to Play WMV Files on Mac
1. VLC Media Player
This is a very popular Mac WMV player that needs little introduction. VLC media player’s iconic orange and white cone is synonymous with a smooth viewing experience!
The 23-year-old WMV player for Mac is designed to play multiple audio and video formats across various platforms, so you can use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, tvOS, ChromeOS, Windows Phone, and more. Here’s how to use VLC to play WMV on Mac.
How to play WMV files on mac with VLC:
Step 1 – Open the VLC media player. Drag and drop the WMV file onto the software’s interface.
Step 2 – The video will automatically play. Or click the Play button if it doesn’t.
Pros
- Offers support for a vast library of both audio and video formats.
- Free to use and isn’t filled with annoying ads.
- Its cross-platform nature means that playing WMV files on a Mac is as easy as playing them on any other major platform.
Cons
- The user interface might be intuitive enough for some users.
- This Mac WMV player is a player first and foremost, so it lacks media library management.
- If you’re using a dated Mac computer and very old macOS, this Mac WMV player might be resource-intensive and a little hard on your system, slowing it down.
Supported OS
- Windows.
- macOS.
- iOS.
- Linux.
- Android.
Pricing
- Free, though there’s a donation option.
2. 5KPlayer
Close on the heels of VLC is another great WMV player for Mac: 5KPlayer! The developers claim over 10 million people use this tool worldwide, which is a testament to its efficiency as a media player!
5k player is so popular because of its extra features and versatility. For example, it lets you wirelessly stream media via AirPlay (Apple’s proprietary streaming technology). So, with this feature, you can play WMV on Mac while streaming it to other Apple devices like Apple TV!
Steps of using 5KPlayer as a WMV player for Mac:
Step 1 -Launch 5KPlayer and drag and drop the video file to it.
Step 2 - The Mac WMV player will play the video. However, if the file is very large, it might take a few seconds to load.
Pros
- Its HD playback feature allows you to play 4K and 5K videos.
- The AirPlay and DLNA features allow you to stream to Apple and smart TVs, setting it apart from other players.
- More than playing videos, the built-in downloader is an extra perk to download and play WMV on Mac.
Cons
- Users claim obtrusive ads sometimes beset the free version.
- The player doesn’t have robust customization options.
- Playing WMV files on a Mac can be resource-intensive if they’re in HD and your Mac isn’t powerful enough to handle the task.
Supported OS
- Windows.
- macOS.
Pricing
- Free
3. IINA Player
Mac WMV player number four prides itself on being the modern media player for MacOS. This player is marked towards more recent Mac computers, meaning it was designed to be compatible with new technologies like Picture-in-Picture and Force Touch.
We put it on this list because, more than being simple to use, this player makes playing WMV files on a Mac a breeze. This also applies to all the other video formats because IINA is powered by the open-source media player MPV.
How to use IINA Player to play .WMV on Mac:
Step 1 – Launch IINA Player and click “Open.” A new Finder will open. Locate the WMV you want to play, then double-click it or click “Open” once more.
Step 2 – IINA Player will now play WMV on Mac.
Pros
- This Mac OS WMV player’s modern and sleek user interface makes navigating easy. Plus, it’s quite visually appealing!
- Designed to work with macOS features like Picture-in-Picture Touch Bar, so it streamlines working on a Mac.
- Being an open-source Mac WMV player means community contributors will ensure the software stays updated.
Cons
- Playing HD videos can be too tasking on lower-end Macs.
- Documentation for troubleshooting purposes can be limited.
- While great, this WMV player might suffer occasional bugs.
Supported OS
- Windows.
- macOS.
Pricing
- Free (Open-source).
4. Switch Player
This is a particularly powerful Mac OS WMV player and encoder. Its main selling point is that it offers more than just a multiformat media player. For one, you can use it to inspect and adjust the properties of a media file and export it as a new file. This feature alone makes it a standout Mac WMV player.
Conversely, even though it’s geared toward media professionals, that’s not to say you can’t use it to play your videos. It works great for pros and will work just as great for you!
Play WMV files on a Mac with Switch player:
Step 1 – Launch the Switch player, then drag and drop the video onto it.
Step 2 – The WMV video will play on its own.
Pros
- The extensive support for file formats means you can play WMV on Mac smoothly.
- Comes with a converter, further enhancing how utilitarian the player is.
- Offers batch processing, which is a feature few converters have.
Cons
- The free version is one of the more limited we’ve seen.
- The Mac WMV player’s powerful nature can affect your Mac’s performance when executing demanding tasks.
- The paid features limit access to other great tools in the software
Supported OS
- Windows.
- macOS.
Pricing
- Switch Player: $19.95.
- Switch Plus: $739
- Switch Pro: $1,059.
5. Elmedia
Do you want to know how to play WMV files on Mac and be able to stream files, too? Elmedia might just be the player for you. It offers advanced playback, so you can expect it to run any major video format efficiently. Regarding its streaming capabilities, just like the 5K Player, you can play WMV on Mac and stream via Airplay, Chromecast, Roku, and DLNA devices.
Playing files with this MAC OS WMV player takes only two steps.
Step 1 - Open the player and drag the WMV file to its center.
Step 2 – The video will play, but unlike the previous players, it might not open in full view.
Pros
- The Mac OS WMV player supports over 70+ audio and video formats.
- The user-friendly interface makes it accessible to beginners and experts.
- You can play WMV on Mac while utilizing the player’s Airplay streaming capabilities.
Cons
- The extra features of the Mac WMV player are behind a paywall.
- Customer support for pro users might be better than that for free users.
- It doesn’t have many notable features besides advanced playback and streaming.
Supported OS
- macOS (available on Apple silicon and Intel
Pricing
- Free.
- Pro: $19.99
6. OmniPlayer
The last player in our review is primarily an MKV player, but its efficiency as a WMV player for Mac is why it’s on this list. OmniPlayer is touted as the best free MKV player for Mac, but it also supports all the other formats you know and use: AVI, MOV, MP4, FLV, MP3, FLAC, and APE. It’s also a light Mac WMV player but can still cast media files to smart TVs, Xbox, Chromecast, etc. We give it credit for that and for being quite affordable!
How do you play WMV files on a Mac with OmniPlayer
Step 1 - Open OmniPlayer and drag the video onto the Plus icon at the center of the software.
Step 2 – The WMV player for Mac will play the video without any hitches!
Pros
- The player supports multiple formats to play most media files without downloading extra codecs.
- Perks and playback features like an adjustable playback speed, video rotation, and support for subtitles make this WMV video player Mac more appealing to users.
- A clean and intuitive interface makes using the player easy.
Cons
- Frequent ads mar the free trier of the Mac WMV player.
- You won’t get advanced features until you pay for a plan.
- There’s a greater priority for updates and support for the paid version of the player.
Supported OS
- macOS.
Pricing
- Free.
- One-Time Payment: CNY 60.00 ($8.37).
- Yearly Subscription: CNY 35.00 ($4.88).
- Monthly Subscription: CNY 1500 ($2.09).
Part 3. Bonus Tip: Convert WMV to Regular Video Formats
Okay, we have one last treat for you. Remember when we said that although UniConverter can play WMV on Mac, it’s also a converter?
If you find yourself trying to play a video format you’ve never heard of, use this excellent tool to convert the file to a format you’re more familiar with because UniConverter supports 1000+ formats! The steps below detail the conversion process.
Steps to convert WMV to regular video formats:
Step 1 – Open UniConverter
Launch UniConverter and click “Converter.”
Step 2 – Load Video
On the next page that opens, click the Folder icon [] to open a Finder window. Locate the video file you want to convert and double-click it or click “Load.” You can also drag and drop the file to the converter.
Step 3 – Convert and Download video
Click “Output Format” to select the format in which you want to convert the video. In this example, we’re converting WMV to MP4. You can also choose the resolution here.
Once done, click “Convert” or “Start All” if converting multiple files. Click the “Fished” tab to see the converted file. That’s all it takes to convert files on UniConverter!
FAQs about Mac WMV Video Player
1. How to convert WMV to QuickTime on Mac?
Your best bet is downloading and installing a media converter like UniConverter to convert it into a QuickTime-compatible format (MP4, MOV, etc.).
2. Can I convert WMV to MP4?
Yes, of course! You just need an efficient media converter for the task.
3. How to edit WMV files on Mac?
WMV is a Windows proprietary format, so you can’t use macOS to edit it. That’s why you should convert it to a format macOS is compatible with MP4.
4. Can iMovie play WMV files?
No, iMovie is a video editor native to macOS that doesn’t support WMV. However, you can convert WMV to other formats using UniConverter and edit them to your heart’s content in iMovie.
5. How do I make QuickTime my default media player on Mac?
It’s easy! Just locate the media file you want, right-click, and choose “Get info.” From there, click “Open with” and select QuickTime Player. For the last step, click “Change All.”
Conclusion
Each software you see here is the best Mac OS WMV player among a sea of inefficient players. But we rank UniConverter higher than the rest because, in addition to its sheer efficiency and fast conversion speed, it also offers an impressive library of tools to enhance your viewing experience!
