3 Best Ways to Play WMA Files on Mac with Ease in 2025

Playing Windows Media Audio files on Mac can be challenging because the format lacks native support on macOS devices. WMA is a proprietary audio format developed by Microsoft, and Apple’s macOS does not have built-in support for it in apps. However, alternative third-party media players and conversion software can let you play WMA on Mac. Whether you opt for specialized media players or use conversion tools, this post will walk you through playing WMA files on your Mac, ensuring you can enjoy your audio content without hassle. Check out more details below!

Part 1. What Is a WMA File and Can Mac Play WMA

What Is a WMA File

A WMA file (Windows Media Audio) file is an audio file format developed by Microsoft for storing and playing audio content. It employs lossy compression to achieve smaller file sizes while maintaining reasonable audio quality, so it has a high compression rate and good sound quality. This audio file format is suitable for use on the Windows platform but has poor compatibility with other operating systems and usually requires third-party software to play. Once, it was a widely used format, but it is gradually being replaced by more commonly supported formats, such as MP3 and AAC.

Can Mac Play WMA Files

Can Mac Play WMA files? Unfortunately NO!

Mac doesn’t support the WMA file formats. If you try to play a WMA file directly using the default media player on macOS, it will likely fail to play. Apple has its proprietary audio format called Advanced Audio Codec or AAC, which it has heavily promoted and used for its products. It has led to a situation where Apple devices and macOS strongly support AAC and other formats like MP3 but not WMA.

Part 2. How to Play WMA Files on Mac via WMA Player

How to Play WMA Files with AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player for Mac

AnyMP4 Blu-ray for Mac is a professional Macbook WMA Player that provides users with an exceptional multimedia playback experience. This media player offers comprehensive support for playing various audio formats, including WMA files. It ensures excellent audio output, delivering immersive sound support. AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player for Mac is a go-to solution for users seeking a versatile and reliable media player on their macOS devices.

Here’s how to play WMA files on Mac using AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player:

1. First, you must click the Free Download button to acquire the media player. Install the AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player on your macOS and launch it afterward.

2. Click Open File in the media player to browse and select the WMA file you want to play.

3. After importing the WMA file, it will start playing the file automatically.

In addition to audio playback, AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player for Mac can handle various video formats, including MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, and more, as well as Blu-rays, DVDs, ISO files, etc. For more WMA music player software, you can check them here.

How to Play WMA Files with VLC for Mac OS X

VLC Media Player is a free, open-source, and cross-platform media player that can play most multimedia files, including WMA file format. This WMA player for Mac comes with most of the codecs built-in, so it supports a wide range of file types, including audio and video formats, DVDs, audio CDs, and various streaming protocols, without the need for additional codec packages. Furthermore, it supports customizing the player's interface, selecting tracks and audio effects, and more, which is a powerful and feature-rich media player.

Here is how to listen to WMA files on Mac using VLC for Mac OS X:

1. Launch VLC on your Mac. Go to the File tab in the top menu bar and click Open File in the drop-down menu to load the WMA file. You can also directly drag and drop it onto the VLC.

2. Then, navigate to the folder where your WMA file is saved in the appearing file selection window, and click the Open button. The WMA file will start playing.

Part 3. How to Play WMA Files on Mac via WMA Converter

How can I play WMA files on my Mac? To play WMA files on your Mac, you must first convert them into a compatible Mac format.

Here we will take AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate as an example to make WMA conversion possible!

AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate for Mac is a comprehensive and versatile audio and video conversion software. As the name suggests, it is the ultimate solution for Mac users to convert various file formats easily. It supports countless audio formats, including WMA, and can output over 500+ formats, such as MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, and more.

1. Beforehand, obtain AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate by clicking the Free Download button. Install the conversion software on your macOS and launch it afterward.

2. Hover your cursor to the Converter tab and click Add Files to add the WMA files you want to convert.

3. Select a compatible format by going to the Output Format dropdown menu like MP3.

4. After selecting the new format, click Convert All to start the WMA conversion.

AnyMP4 Audio Converter on Mac lets you efficiently convert WMA files to your desired audio format with high speed and excellent quality. Additionally, before the conversion, you can modify the audio parameters, like Bitrate, Channel, Encoder, and Sample Rate.

Conclusion

While WMA files may not be natively supported on macOS, there are effective solutions to play WMA on Mac. Third-party media players, such as AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player and VLC Media Player, offer excellent support for WMA and other audio formats, providing Mac users with a versatile and reliable option for playing their WMA audio files. Additionally, AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate and AnyMP4 Audio Converter Online can help users convert WMA to more compatible formats for playback on native macOS media players. With these practical solutions, playing WMA becomes a straightforward and enjoyable experience. Now, enjoy your WMA files without compatibility issues on your Mac device!