MOV to WTV Converter
Initializing... drag & drop files here
Supports: MOV
Advanced Options - Our defaults are optimized for the best results. We recommend you keeping the defaults unless you have a specific need.
Reset to defaults
Need help?MOV to WTV Converter
WTV (Windows Recorded TV Show) is the container Windows Media Center wrote when it recorded live TV. This tool re-encodes a MOV — Apple's QuickTime container, usually carrying H.264 or HEVC — into WTV so the file slots into a Media Center-era library. Be clear-eyed before you start: Microsoft dropped Windows Media Center from Windows 10 and it is absent from Windows 11, so WTV is a legacy target. Convert to it only if you specifically need a Media Center-compatible file; for everything else, convert MOV to MP4 instead — MP4 plays on essentially every modern device and is the smaller, more future-proof choice.
Is WTV the Right Target for You?
Pick WTV only if you are feeding a system that actually expects it — a Windows 7 Media Center install, an HTPC running a Media Center clone, or a workflow built around .wtv files. Because MOV almost always holds H.264/HEVC and WTV is built around MPEG-2, this conversion re-encodes the video: it is lossy and gains no quality, so leave the Quality Preset high (the page defaults to "Very High"). If you just want a TV-friendly file that plays anywhere, WTV is the wrong answer — MP4, MKV, or even WMV will serve you better.
MOV Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Developer | Apple (QuickTime File Format) |
| Typical video codec | H.264 / AVC, or HEVC / H.265 on newer Apple devices |
| Typical audio codec | AAC; sometimes ALAC or PCM |
| Container basis | ISO base media file format (shared lineage with MP4) |
| Native playback | QuickTime, macOS/iOS, and most modern players incl. VLC |
| Best for | Editing, Apple ecosystems, high-quality masters |
WTV Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 (Vista); standard in Windows 7 Media Center editions |
| Video codec | MPEG-2 (the SBE capture path; the spec also allows MPEG-4) |
| Audio codec | MPEG-1 Layer II or Dolby Digital AC-3 (ATSC A/52) |
| Replaced | DVR-MS (used by Windows XP Media Center Edition) |
| Native playback | Windows Media Center — removed in Windows 10, absent in Windows 11; VLC opens WTV on any OS |
| Best for | Recorded-TV libraries on Media Center-era systems |
WTV carries broadcast metadata and can hold a copy-protection flag; protected recordings are tied to the PC that made them. Microsoft confirmed in May 2015 that Media Center would not ship with Windows 10, and Windows 7 was the last edition to bundle it as standard. So a WTV you create here will not open in the built-in player on a current Windows machine — VLC is the reliable cross-platform way to play one.
How to Convert MOV to WTV
- Upload Your MOV File: Drag and drop your
.movonto the page or click "+ Add Files" to browse. You can queue several clips and convert them with the same settings. - Set the Quality Preset: Open Advanced Options and leave Quality Preset on "Very High (Recommended)" — since this re-encodes to MPEG-2, a high preset limits the quality you lose.
- Adjust Resolution or Trim (Optional): Use Video resolution to keep the original or pick a Preset Resolution, and use Trim → Time Range to export just a portion of the clip.
- Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and save your WTV file. No sign-up, no watermark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WTV still supported on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Not natively. Microsoft announced in May 2015 that Windows Media Center would not be included in Windows 10, and the upgrade actively removes it; Windows 11 ships without it too. The last Windows release to bundle Media Center as standard was Windows 7 (Windows 8.1 required a paid Media Center Pack, retired in October 2015). To play a WTV file on a current PC, use VLC, which opens WTV on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Will converting MOV to WTV reduce quality?
Yes, somewhat. A MOV typically stores H.264 or HEVC, while WTV's recording path uses MPEG-2, so the file is fully re-encoded rather than repackaged. Re-encoding is lossy and cannot add detail back, so keep the Quality Preset on "Very High." If preserving the original quality matters more than the WTV container, keep the MOV or convert it to MP4.
Should I just convert MOV to MP4 instead?
For most people, yes. MP4 plays on virtually every phone, smart TV, browser, and media player, whereas WTV only made sense inside Windows Media Center, which Microsoft has discontinued. Choose WTV only when a specific Media Center-era system requires .wtv; otherwise MP4 is smaller, more compatible, and not tied to abandoned software.
What audio does the WTV output use?
WTV is built around MPEG-1 Layer II or Dolby Digital AC-3 (ATSC A/52) audio, the codecs the Stream Buffer Engine used for recorded TV. Your MOV's AAC track is transcoded to fit the container during conversion. If your goal is broad device support rather than Media Center compatibility, an MP4 with AAC audio is the safer pick.
Can I play the WTV file I create in VLC?
Yes. In our testing, WTV files produced by this converter open in current VLC builds across Windows, macOS, and Linux. VLC is the most dependable free option because it does not rely on the removed Windows Media Center component — so even on Windows 11 you can confirm the conversion worked by opening the result in VLC.
How are my files handled during conversion?
Your MOV is uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and the files are deleted automatically a few hours after the conversion finishes. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and your files are never shared or made public.