MP4 to WTV Converter
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Supports: MP4, M4V
Advanced Options - Our defaults are optimized for the best results. We recommend you keeping the defaults unless you have a specific need.
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Need help?How to Convert MP4 to WTV Online
- Upload Your MP4 Files — Drag and drop or select one or more MP4 or M4V video files.
- Choose a Quality Preset — Select from Highest, Very High (Recommended), High, Medium, Low, Very Low, or Lowest.
- Adjust Resolution (Optional) — Keep original, pick a preset (4320p down to 144p), or enter exact width and/or height.
- Trim (Optional) — Set a start time and duration in seconds or HH:MM:SS.sss to extract a specific segment.
- Convert & Download — Click Convert and download your WTV files.
The video codec defaults to H.264 and the audio codec defaults to AAC for WTV output. Both can be changed under Advanced settings.
Why Convert MP4 to WTV?
WTV (Windows Recorded TV Show) is Microsoft's format for TV recordings in Windows Media Center. It stores video, audio, metadata, and supports DRM. Converting MP4 to WTV is useful when you want to integrate personal videos into a Windows Media Center library, play content on systems that only recognize WTV recordings, or archive videos in the same format as your recorded TV shows for a unified media library.
MP4 vs WTV
| Feature | MP4 | WTV (Windows TV) |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | ISO/MPEG | Microsoft |
| Primary use | Universal video | Windows Media Center recordings |
| Video codecs | H.264, H.265, AV1 | MPEG-2, H.264 |
| Audio codecs | AAC, MP3 | AC-3, AAC |
| DRM support | Limited | ✅ |
| Metadata | Basic | Extended (TV guide data, ratings) |
| Windows Media Center | Import required | ✅ Native |
| Playback | ✅ Universal | Windows Vista+ only |
Use Cases
- Windows Media Center — Add personal MP4 videos to your Windows Media Center recorded TV library alongside actual TV recordings.
- Unified media library — Keep all your video content in WTV format for consistent organization within the Windows Media Center interface.
- Legacy Windows systems — Some older Windows setups with Media Center as the primary interface only browse and play WTV files.
- DVR integration — Integrate MP4 content with DVR recordings stored as WTV for a seamless viewing experience.
What is WTV?
WTV (Windows Recorded TV Show) is a file format created by Microsoft for Windows Media Center. It stores MPEG-2 or H.264 video with AC-3 or AAC audio, plus TV metadata like channel info, program descriptions, and ratings.
Can I play WTV files outside Windows?
WTV is primarily a Windows format. VLC can play WTV on all platforms. macOS and Linux do not have native WTV support without third-party players.
Does this accept M4V files?
Yes. The converter accepts both MP4 and M4V — they use the same MPEG-4 container format.
Can I trim the video during conversion?
Yes. Use the Trim option to set a start time and duration in seconds or HH:MM:SS.sss.
Is Windows Media Center still available?
Windows Media Center was discontinued after Windows 8.1. However, some users still run it on older systems, and WTV files remain playable on Windows 10/11 with VLC or third-party tools.