Trim WTV

How to Trim WTV Videos

1. Upload your WTV file — Click "+ Add Files" or drag and drop your Windows Recorded TV file.
2. Set trim points — Under "Trim," select "Time Range" and enter a start time and duration.
3. Adjust compression (optional) — Under "File Compression," select "Quality Preset" (Highest to Lowest), "Target file size (%)", "Specific file size," "Constant Bitrate," "Variable Bitrate," "Constant Quality" (CRF), or "Constraint Quality."
4. Adjust resolution (optional) — Under "Video resolution," keep original, pick a preset (1080p, 720p, etc.), or enter exact width/height.
5. Trim and download — Click "Trim" and download your trimmed WTV file.

Why Trim WTV Files?

WTV (Windows TV) is Microsoft's recording format for Windows Media Center, replacing the older DVR-MS format. WTV files store recorded TV shows, movies, and live broadcasts captured through a TV tuner card. These recordings often include pre/post-show buffer time, commercials, and channel transitions that you want to remove.

Trimming WTV files lets you extract just the content you want — removing commercials from recorded shows, isolating specific segments, or cutting a long recording down to a highlight clip.

WTV Format Details

Property	Value
Developer	Microsoft
Full name	Windows Recorded TV Show
Predecessor	DVR-MS
Video codec	MPEG-2 or H.264
Audio codec	AC3 (Dolby Digital)
Source	Windows Media Center TV tuner

Frequently Asked Questions

What is WTV format?

WTV (Windows TV) is Microsoft's format for TV recordings made with Windows Media Center. It replaced DVR-MS and stores MPEG-2 or H.264 video with AC3 audio, plus TV guide metadata and closed captions.

Can I remove commercials?

Yes. Trim to the content segments, skipping commercial breaks. Use multiple trim operations for non-contiguous segments.

Can I compress while trimming?

Yes. Under "File Compression," choose any method — useful for reducing large TV recordings (a 1-hour HD recording can be 4–8 GB).

What software plays WTV files?

Windows Media Center (Windows 7/8), VLC, and Windows Media Player (with codec). For broader compatibility, consider converting to MP4.

Is Windows Media Center still available?

Windows Media Center was discontinued in Windows 10. WTV files from older systems can still be played and trimmed using XConvert or VLC.