How do I convert MP3 audio files to WMA?

Please, please, please help me! I saw a question you answered earlier about how to: Convert WMA from Windows Media Player into MP3 files? Now, I know you know how to convert WMA files to MP3 files, but do you know how to convert MP3 files to WMA files? Please help me, you would be my hero! You are my last hope!

Dave's Answer:

Well, I can't resist trying to help someone who is at the very end of their proverbial rope, so I pulled a few sample MP3 flies out of my Windows Media Player library and dropped them onto my desktop to see what I could figure out.

Then I went to Download.com and searched for "mp3 wma" to see what it would show avaliable for download, and scored! The application Free MP3 WMA Converter looked quite promising, so I downloaded it and installed it on my Windows XP system. (Tip: if the above link doesn't work for grabbing a copy of the program yourself, you can always go to the developer's Web site). Want something more robust? Try the 24/7 supported application Smart Audio Converter. Either way, the process shown here is basically identical.

During the install process, it complained about the lack of some WMA codec libraries, but I indicated that I was okay with it installing those during the process and everything went swimmingly. I then launched the program and dragged my three test songs into it (Big Swing Face by Bruce Hornsby, I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You by Alan Parsons, and Army Dreamers by Kate Bush). It looked like this:

Free MP3 WMA Converter for Windows: Ready!

Once I'd added all three, I then changed the settings to specify where I wanted the output files saved (I've opted for my Desktop), what format to use (WMA) and then let it default to the correct WMA settings.

Finally, ready to go, I clicked on the "Convert!" button:

Free MP3 WMA Converter for Windows: Converting!

Notice on the bottom the progress bar shows that we're almost done, 84% through the conversion process. It took just a few seconds per track to convert all three to WMA format.

The final test? I opened up the WMA version of Army Dreamers in Microsoft's Windows Media Player and it played perfectly:

Windows Media Player playing a converted WMA audio flie!

A straightforward process and a very nice application, especially for free.

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Categorized: iPod, Sony PSP and MP3 Player Help (Article 6689, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: audio converter, mp3, windows media player, wma
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Reader Comments To Date: 22

camcrobe said, on August 26, 2006 5:50 PM:

Is there a macintosh solution for converting .mp3 to .wma?

I ask as I would love to get some tunes (and play lists) on to my Verizon Razr v3m from my macintosh. Using Windows Media Player 10, Windows folks can sync and move tunes to their phone out of the box, be we are apparently left in the dark.

Treyvon said, on June 29, 2007 7:41 PM:

how do i do my psp wma setup

Sonya said, on July 30, 2007 8:46 PM:

Hello. In the interest of saving space on my 1GB mp3 player, I also want to know if it is possible to convert my mp3 files in iTunes (non-Intel iMac running 10.4.10) to WMA. I'm transferring podcasts to a SanDisk Sansa m240, my first mp3 player, but the same question would apply to music. Thanks for any help for this novice.

Susan said, on August 16, 2008 4:06 PM:

Thanks a lot Dave! The other converters I looked at seemed to have annoying popup ads and stuff. This converter works great.

SharkGirl said, on September 15, 2008 10:52 AM:

This is apparently no longer free. Neither of the programs.

The FreeConverter is not really free if you want wma output. Apparently, that's the catch. You have to buy that portion of the product, but you can convert other formats for free. I wanted wma.

The Smart Audio converter will only convert 60% of the file. If you want 100%, buy their program. I uninstalled it. They shouldn't put free trial on their advertisement. They should have warned that you only get partial conversion.

I suppose this article was brilliant for an answer when the products were free, but I also suppose it was such a success that the developers thought "hey! why not charge these people now?"

Jessica said, on December 12, 2008 3:47 AM:

I was able to find the product for free & it works awesome! Thanks so much!

jro said, on March 28, 2009 3:26 PM:

Works like a dream. Thanks!!!

posted by said, on April 1, 2009 5:06 PM:

Works brilliant had to downoad N0 extra parts and EVERYTHING was free, that was misleading sharkgirl.
Thankyou alot, been looking for a program like this for a while.

RITA said, on April 16, 2009 9:27 AM:

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE INFO:)

davy said, on June 27, 2009 10:28 AM:

how do i make my nexus25 play my stored songs after ive cancelled the xm subscription

Deesh said, on November 10, 2009 7:43 PM:

Good Day! I was able to convert the wma file into mp3. Thanks to you! However, the length of the song was reduced to 1:48 from 2:45. How do i solve that?

Kenny said, on November 21, 2009 7:30 PM:

there isnt even a wma format to convert it to....

grub said, on December 11, 2009 7:28 PM:

i agree with sharkgirl and kenny, there isn't even a wma format to convert it to

bill brown said, on January 14, 2010 5:04 PM:

i down loaded from limewire but it went into a file instead of music or my library how do i get it iver there and will the download work in my cd player when i burn these files???? thanks dave

haley said, on February 3, 2010 6:47 AM:

ok so what i did was i needed a cd burner and a converter aswell, so why not do the whole "kill two birds with one stone" now im no computer wiz actually i failed computer tech class :) but hey, so i went to google (easy huh?) then i went to brothersoft and they have mp3 cd burners that convert to wma and so on and so forth this software can convert back and forth what ever your little heart desires i found it interesting and i grabbed it :) see two birds with one stone :) its called minidvdsoft
look it up

Elaine said, on February 9, 2010 2:57 PM:

This was ace, it worked great and was very fast to install and easy to use (especially with the help of your pictures) and completely free of charge. thank you x

chazz said, on September 3, 2010 10:54 PM:

Thanks mate, you helped alot!! your the man

Wahida said, on November 6, 2010 5:41 AM:

Excuse me , I want to ask something. How to make all of the song in a disc , which has been convert to WMA, to make it can be play in radio.

Cameron said, on December 11, 2010 7:44 AM:

THANK YOU!!!!! I, too, was at the end of my rope... I've tried this many times before and almost gone bonkers... this time I was smart and Googled and got your page. THANK YOU! :)

Eli Hernandez said, on May 4, 2011 3:46 PM:

Dear David,
Thanks a lot for the information. It really helped me a lot...

DC said, on June 24, 2011 9:21 PM:

there are others that work very well for example the koyote one works just as well

Cloyd said, on May 29, 2012 9:36 AM:

Thanks dave!

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

How do I convert MP3 audio files to WMA?

Reader Comments To Date: 22

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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