What is a .wv file?
WavPack Audio · Audio · David Bryant · 1998
A .wv file is WavPack audio, an open lossless format with an unusual hybrid mode: it can store a small lossy file plus a correction file that together reconstruct the lossless original.
What is a .wv file used for?
WavPack files start with the marker wvpk. In normal mode they are fully lossless; in hybrid mode a compact .wv lossy file pairs with a .wvc correction file so you can keep both a small and a perfect copy.
It is open and free, with solid support in audiophile players. Convert to FLAC or WAV for players that do not read it.
What opens a .wv file?
The .wv format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- foobar2000
- VLC
- WavPack tools
macOS
- VLC
- XLD
Linux
- VLC
- ffmpeg
- Deadbeef
Open a .wv file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .wv. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with foobar2000 or VLC.
- On Mac, use VLC or XLD.
- On Linux, try VLC or ffmpeg.
- Still stuck? Convert the .wv to flac, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .wv file?
Almost always because no installed app understands WavPack. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .wv at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .wv file
You can convert a .wv file to flac, wav, mp3 using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .wv file signature (magic bytes)?
A .wv file starts with the hex bytes 77 76 70 6B, which read as wvpk in ASCII. Programs identify WavPack by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for WavPack. For a full breakdown, see the WavPack file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77 76 70 6B | 0 | wvpk | 'wvpk' |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .wv file?
A .wv file is WavPack audio, an open lossless format with an unusual hybrid mode: it can store a small lossy file plus a correction file that together reconstruct the lossless original.
How do I open a .wv file?
Play it in VLC or foobar2000, or convert it to FLAC or WAV with ffmpeg for wider support.
What is WavPack hybrid mode?
It splits audio into a small lossy .wv file and a .wvc correction file. Together they are lossless; the .wv alone plays as a compact lossy track.
Is WavPack lossless?
In its normal mode, yes, fully lossless. It also offers a hybrid mode that combines a lossy file with an optional lossless correction file.
Related formats
Sources
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