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Stephennen's avatar
Stephennen
Copper Contributor
Jul 24, 2024

The best way to convert wma to mp3 on Windows 11?

Hi everyone,

 

I've recently copied hundreds of WMA music files from my backup CDs, but I just discovered that my car's media player doesn't support WMA format. I need to convert all these WMA files to MP3 so I can play them in my car. I'm using Windows 11 and I'm looking for the best way to do this.

 

Can anyone suggest a reliable method for batch converting WMA to MP3 on Windows 11? I'm looking for something that is user-friendly and maintains good audio quality. If there are any free tools available, that would be ideal, but I'm also open to paid solutions if they are highly recommended.

 

If you have any tips on preserving audio quality during the conversion process, that would be helpful as well.

 

Thanks in advance!

  • I have encountered this problem before. I used AudioKis. It is very convenient to batch convert WMA to MP3. The operation is simple and the sound quality is guaranteed. The car player can play it smoothly. I recommend you to try it!

     

    I get it here: https://www.techsrader.com/batch-convert-wav-to-mp3

     

    PS: You can also adjust the sound quality of MP3. I usually choose 192kbps so that the sound quality will not be lost too much. It's worth a try!

     

  • Moenlly's avatar
    Moenlly
    Copper Contributor
    Don't just grab the first converter you find on Google. Some software can have ads or, worse, malware. I've had a bad experience where I downloaded a converter that promised quick results but ended up being buggy and crashed my system. Stick to well-known programs.

    When converting WMA to MP3 on Windows 11 computer, keep an eye on the quality settings. Sometimes the default isn't the best, and you could end up with a low-quality MP3 that sounds awful. Always check the bitrate options. A good range for decent quality is usually between 192 kbps and 320 kbps. You'll appreciate the difference, trust me!
  • Paulload's avatar
    Paulload
    Copper Contributor

    I have encountered this problem before. I used AudioKis. It is very convenient to batch convert WMA to MP3. The operation is simple and the sound quality is guaranteed. The car player can play it smoothly. I recommend you to try it!

     

    I get it here: https://www.techsrader.com/batch-convert-wav-to-mp3

     

    PS: You can also adjust the sound quality of MP3. I usually choose 192kbps so that the sound quality will not be lost too much. It's worth a try!

     

  • Kaydenyo's avatar
    Kaydenyo
    Copper Contributor

    Stephennen  MP3 is a widely used audio format and supported by Car players. It also offer a good balance between file size and audio quality. For Windows 11/10/8/7 users,  it is easy to batch convert WMA files to MP3 using the built-in Windows Media Player.

     

    Step 1: Launch Windows Media Player from the Start menu or by searching for it in the search bar.

     

    Step 2: Navigate to your music library or import the WMA files by selecting "File" > "Open" and choosing the files you wish to convert.

     

    Step 3: Select "Format" and then choose "MP3" from the list of available formats. Under the "Rip settings," you can also adjust the audio quality by choosing a bit rate. 

     

    Step 4: Click the OK button to start converting .wma to .mp3 for free with Windows Media Player.

  • Douglasom's avatar
    Douglasom
    Copper Contributor

    In my opinion, converting WMA to MP3 using Windows Media Player is still a viable option, especially if you're short on space or just need a quick fix. But you can only convert files one at a time using this method. If you have a large collection of WMA files to convert, this can be a tedious process.

     

    If you're looking for more advanced features, better control over conversion settings, or compatibility with a wider range of file formats, you might want to consider other options.

    • VincentScott's avatar
      VincentScott
      Copper Contributor

      Douglasom Windows Media Player lacks a built-in feature to convert WMA files to MP3 format. It primarily serves as a media player and library organizer rather than a file converter. In addition, WMA (Windows Media Audio) is a proprietary format developed by Microsoft, and converting it to MP3 (a format with its own licensing) might involve complexities that Windows Media Player does not address.

       

      You have to use some dedicated WMA to MP3 Converter if Windows Media Player failed to do that. They can bulk convert .wma to .mp3 on Windows 11 without losing quality!

  • ElijahFoster's avatar
    ElijahFoster
    Copper Contributor

    Stephennen 

    I have also encountered the situation where I need to convert the music file format from WMA to MP3. I use Windows Media Player. This method is quite convenient. First, make sure you have the latest version of Windows Media Player, which will have more comprehensive functions.

     

    1. Open Windows Media Player: You can find it in the Start menu, or search for "Windows Media Player" to open it.
    2. Import WMA files: In Windows Media Player, you can import your WMA music by dragging and dropping files to the playlist, or using "Open Folder" in the "File" menu.
    3. Set the conversion format: Find the "Tools" option in the top menu bar, and then select "Options".
    4. elect the "RIP Music" tab in the pop-up window and make sure the output format is set to MP3.
    5. Start the conversion: Select the WMA file you want to convert, then right-click and select "RIP Music to Library" and the conversion will begin.
    6. After the conversion is completed, your MP3 file will be saved in the specified output folder.

    This method is simple to operate, does not require additional software, and the sound quality can be well maintained. I hope this method can help you!Although using Windows Media Player to convert WMA to MP3 is convenient, it also has some limitations:

     

    1. Conversion speed may be slow: Especially when dealing with a large number of files, Windows Media Player may not be as fast and efficient as dedicated audio conversion tools.
    2. Functionality limitations: Although basic format conversions can be performed, Windows Media Player has limited audio editing and advanced settings, such as the inability to adjust specific parameters of conversion quality.
  • Holaway's avatar
    Holaway
    Iron Contributor

    Stephennen 

    Using PowerShell scripts to batch convert music file formats, such as from WMA to MP3, is a method I often use, especially for processing large numbers of files. This process requires a little programming knowledge, but once you set it up, it is very efficient to use.

     

    Here are the basic steps:

    1. Open PowerShell: You can search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu, then right-click and run it as administrator.
    2. Write the script: You will need to prepare a script that will use a command-line tool such as ffmpeeg to perform the audio conversion. For example, you can write a script that loops through a folder containing WMA files and executes a conversion command for each file.
    3. Execute the script: Save the script as a .ps1 file and then run it in PowerShell. For example, you can type .\convert-script.ps1 to execute your script.

    The benefit of this method is that once you set up the script, you only need to run the script every time you need to convert files, which is very convenient. The disadvantage is that it may take some time to set up the first time, especially if you are not familiar with PowerShell or programming. However, once you master this skill, it is very powerful and flexible.

  • JackMoore's avatar
    JackMoore
    Copper Contributor

    Converting WMA (Windows Media Audio) files to MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III) offers several benefits, particularly in terms of compatibility and accessibility. MP3 is a universally accepted audio format that works on virtually all devices and platforms, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and various media players.

     

    In contrast, WMA, developed by Microsoft, may not be supported on all non-Windows devices, especially older or less common ones. By converting WMA to MP3 on Windows 11/10 PC, you ensure that your audio files can be played across a broader range of devices without requiring special software.

  • AidenGarcia's avatar
    AidenGarcia
    Copper Contributor

    Stephennen  In reality, there are a lot of cases for using MP3 over WMA, especially for cross device support for music file. One big upside of converting WMA to MP3 is the potential for better file size management without significant loss in audio quality. MP3 is a highly efficient format that allows for decent audio quality even at lower bit rates, which can save storage space compared to WMA files.

     

    This can be especially useful if you are managing large music libraries or need to store audio files on devices with limited storage capacity. Additionally, MP3's widespread use makes it easier to share audio files with others, as they are more likely to be able to play the files without compatibility issues.

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