You have a folder of WMA files and you need MP3s. Can Windows Media Player do the conversion? No. Windows Media Player (the Legacy version) has no function to convert existing WMA files to MP3. Its Rip settings control only the format used when ripping audio CDs, not converting files already on your hard drive. The newer Media Player app in Windows 11 plays WMA but offers no file conversion at all. If you need to change WMA to MP3, Windows Media Player won't do the job.

What Windows Media Player Can and Cannot Do

Windows Media Player Legacy is a capable audio player and CD ripper. Use it to rip CDs to WMA, MP3, or other formats, and to play WMA files. But the Rip settings (under Organize > Options > Rip Music > Format) apply only when ripping a CD. They do not touch files already on your drive. There is no menu option called “Convert” or “Save As MP3” for existing files. The newer Media Player app in Windows 11 is similarly limited: it plays WMA but has no conversion feature at all.

The Burn-and-Re-Rip Workaround

How The Workaround Works

Windows Media Player can't convert WMA files directly. There is a workaround that uses its CD-burning feature. It's slow, it requires blank discs, and it costs you audio quality. But it does work. Here's the process:

  1. Create a new playlist in Windows Media Player and add the WMA files you want to convert.
  2. Insert a blank CD-R into your computer's optical drive.
  3. Click the Burn tab, then click the “Burn list” button and choose “Burn CD” to start burning an audio CD.
  4. Wait for the burn to finish. This produces a standard audio CD that plays in most CD players.
  5. Remove the burned disc and reinsert it into your drive.
  6. In Windows Media Player, select the CD in the navigation pane, and make sure the Rip settings are set to MP3 (Organize > Options > Rip Music > Format, then choose MP3).
  7. Click the Rip CD button to rip the audio CD back to your hard drive as MP3 files.

The Drawbacks

This method works, but it has significant downsides. It needs a blank CD-R for every 80 minutes of audio. It also encodes the audio twice: first to CD format, then to MP3. Each lossy encoding step removes detail. The final MP3 will sound worse than the original WMA, especially if you start with lower-bitrate files.

Quality Loss in the Workaround

The burn-and-re-rip method is a lossy-to-lossy conversion. WMA files are encoded at 128 kbps or higher, and MP3 is also a lossy format. When you burn WMA files to an audio CD, Windows Media Player decodes them to raw PCM audio (the CD format). Then, when you rip that CD to MP3, the encoder compresses the audio again. This second compression removes more information. Your ears might notice.

If you try this workaround, choose a sensible MP3 bitrate. For 128 kbps WMA rips, 192 kbps MP3 is a sensible target. Higher bitrates won't restore any lost detail; they'll just create larger files. The quality ceiling is set by the original WMA file, not by the MP3 bitrate you choose.

DRM-Protected WMA Files

Some WMA files are protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM). These files are purchased from online stores and tied to a specific account or device. Legitimate tools, including Windows Media Player, cannot convert DRM-protected WMA files to MP3. The burn-and-re-rip workaround also fails. Windows Media Player will refuse to burn DRM-protected files to an audio CD. If you have DRM-protected WMA files, your only legal options are to play them with authorized software or to re-purchase the music in an unprotected format.

Alternatives to Windows Media Player

Since Windows Media Player can't convert WMA to MP3, you need a dedicated converter. Many online tools do the job without installing software. For example, wmatomp3-converter.com is a free, online converter that handles WMA and other audio formats, and it works right in your browser. It doesn't require you to burn CDs or re-rip anything. It preserves your original files. Upload your WMA files, choose MP3 as the output format, and download the converted MP3s.

Another option is a different desktop program. But the site you're reading about, wmatomp3-converter.com, is a straightforward choice for this task. It's free, online, and leaves no watermark on your files.

What About ITunes or Other Software?

iTunes for Windows can import unprotected WMA files, but it converts them to AAC, not MP3. AAC is a good format, but if you specifically need MP3 files, iTunes won't help. Other media players might have conversion features, but they carry limitations or require additional codecs. The most reliable way to get MP3 from WMA is a dedicated converter that explicitly supports WMA as input and MP3 as output.

Making the Right Choice

If you need to convert a few WMA files, the burn-and-re-rip workaround is technically possible. It's time-consuming and degrades quality. For most people, a dedicated online converter is faster, easier, and produces better results. You don't need to change settings, burn discs, or worry about losing quality beyond the original WMA file. Just upload, convert, and download.

Windows Media Player Legacy remains available in Windows 11 as an optional feature. That doesn't add conversion abilities. The bottom line: if you want to convert WMA to MP3, Windows Media Player is not the tool. Use a converter designed for the job.