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WTV to MP4 Converter

Convert WTV to MP4 online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

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How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

01

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

02

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

03

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a WTV file?

The WTV (Windows Recorded TV Show) format is a proprietary video container developed by Microsoft for recording television content via Windows Media Center, replacing the earlier DVR-MS format. It utilizes the Stream Buffer Engine (SBE) architecture to allow simultaneous recording and playback. The container typically encapsulates MPEG-2 or H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video streams and MPEG-1 Layer II or Dolby Digital AC-3 audio, often including extensive metadata and DRM restrictions to enforce broadcast copyright policies.

How to open a WTV file

WTV files are designed for Windows Media Center, which is discontinued in Windows 10 and 11, though the files may still play in standard Windows Media Player if the content is not DRM-encrypted. For reliable playback on modern systems or non-Windows platforms, VLC media player is the primary solution for non-encrypted WTV files. Encrypted WTV files generally cannot be opened by third-party software and require the original recording hardware environment.

WTV Technical Info

Full Name
Windows Recorded TV Show
Developed By
Microsoft
Initial Release
2008
MIME Type
video/wtv

What is an MP4 file?

MPEG-4 Part 14 (MP4) is a digital multimedia container format defined by ISO/IEC 14496-14. Based directly on the QuickTime File Format (QTFF), it allows for streaming over the Internet and is the global standard for video compatibility. An MP4 file can store video streams (encoded with H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, or MPEG-4 Visual), audio streams (typically AAC or MP3), subtitles, and still images. It utilizes object-oriented structures specifically designed to support initial object descriptors (IOD) and other MPEG features.

How to open an MP4 file

MP4 is the most widely supported video format in existence. It opens natively on virtually all modern operating systems including Windows (via Movies & TV or Windows Media Player), macOS (QuickTime), Android, and iOS. Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) also support native MP4 playback via the HTML5 video tag. No external software is generally required, though VLC Media Player is useful for MP4 files containing obscure codecs.

MP4 Technical Info

Full Name
MPEG-4 Part 14
Developed By
ISO / IEC
Initial Release
2001
MIME Type
video/mp4

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Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert WTV to MP4 in seconds

Every WTV to MP4 conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Developer API

Convert WTV to MP4 via API

Automate WTV to MP4 conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "wtv-to-mp4",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "mp4"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.wtv

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.