OpenAnyFile
What is a .wtv file?
Windows Recorded TV Show is a video format developed by Microsoft, first released in 2009. It is usually created by Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center TV recordings. Media Center left Windows in 2015, so these usually need converting to MP4.
File details
| Full name | Windows Recorded TV Show |
|---|---|
| Category | Video |
| MIME type | video/x-ms-wtv |
| Signature (magic bytes) | B7 D8 00 20 37 49 DA 11 A6 4E 00 07 E9 5E AD 8D |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 2009 |
| Opens with | Video player |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .wtv file
OpenAnyFile routes .wtv files to its video player, which shows a full player with seeking and fullscreen, if your browser has the codec.
- Drop your .wtv file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the video player.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: a full player with seeking and fullscreen, if your browser has the codec. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Guaranteed playback. It depends on your browser shipping this codec; if it doesn't, you still get the full inspection.
Is it safe to open a .wtv file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .wtv files
Can I open a .wtv file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .wtv files in your browser using its video player. You get a full player with seeking and fullscreen, if your browser has the codec, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .wtv file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine WTV file begins with B7 D8 00 20 37 49 DA 11 A6 4E 00 07 E9 5E AD 8D. OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .wtv file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.