What is MIME type "video/x-ms-wvx"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

video/x-ms-wvx is a MIME type for Microsoft Windows Media Video Redirector files. It does not contain video data. Instead, it directs a media player to the actual streaming source.

WVX files hold URLs that point to media streams. The media player then fetches the video from that location. This setup enables easy updates of streaming links without changing the player’s configuration.

Online Video Streaming: Directs players to live or on-demand streams.
Dynamic Content Delivery: Allows providers to change source links on the fly.
Adaptive Streaming: Helps select the best stream based on network conditions.

The file extension associated with this MIME type is WVX.

For more technical details, see the information on Windows Media.

Associated file extensions

.wvx

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: video/x-ms-wvx

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="video/x-ms-wvx">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'video/x-ms-wvx');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.wvx

FAQs

What is the difference between video/x-ms-wvx and video/x-ms-wmv?

The primary difference is that video/x-ms-wmv contains actual binary video and audio data, whereas video/x-ms-wvx is a text-based redirector file. A .wvx file simply contains the URL location of the media stream, instructing the player where to find the content, rather than holding the content itself.

How do I configure Apache to serve WVX files correctly?

To ensure browsers and media players recognize the file type, add the MIME definition to your .htaccess file or main configuration. Use the directive: AddType video/x-ms-wvx .wvx. This prevents the file from being treated as plain text.

Why does my WVX file open as text code in the browser instead of playing?

This usually happens because the web server is sending the file with a text/plain MIME type instead of video/x-ms-wvx. To fix this, you must update your web server's MIME type configuration to associate the .wvx extension with the correct video type.

Can I use video/x-ms-wvx with the HTML5 <video> tag?

No, modern browsers do not support Windows Media Redirector files natively in the HTML5 <video> element. These files are a proprietary Microsoft format intended for external applications like Windows Media Player or typically require legacy plugins that are no longer supported in modern web standards.

Which software opens files with the video/x-ms-wvx MIME type?

The default application is Microsoft Windows Media Player. However, versatile third-party players like VLC media player also support parsing .wvx files to locate and play the referenced stream. You can find more details on the wvx page.

Is video/x-ms-wvx a standard IANA MIME type?

No, the x- prefix in video/x-ms-wvx indicates that it is a non-standard, experimental, or proprietary type defined by Microsoft. While not a standard internet standard, it is widely recognized by Windows-based servers and applications.

What is the internal structure of a video/x-ms-wvx file?

Internally, a .wvx file is a plain text file using XML syntax, specifically the Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) format. It typically starts with an <ASX> tag and contains <ENTRY> elements that define the path to the media source.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.