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THE FILE FIELD GUIDE
.wv

WavPack Audio

Audio

WV names WavPack audio, which may be lossless, lossy or hybrid. Hybrid files can use a WVC correction companion for lossless reconstruction. Inspect mode and companion files before transferring WV alone.

What it is used for
Lossless, lossy or hybrid audio storage
What the file contains
Binary data
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

Identify the WavPack mode

WV alone is not necessarily lossless.

  1. Look for a matching WVC correction file.
  2. Inspect mode with a compatible player or WavPack tools.
  3. Check duration, channels and content.
Use a hybrid correction file

Use the matching WV/WVC pair.

  1. Copy both with their matching relationship and names.
  2. Verify that the decoder actually used the correction file.
  3. Inspect verification and decoded-output status.
Decode audio for migration

Record the mode before decoding.

  1. Read a copy with WvUnpack or another supported decoder.
  2. Export to supported audio without overwriting the source.
  3. Inspect errors, duration, sample settings and tags.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • Unexpected lossy decoding: check for the required hybrid WVC.
  • Device fails: check WavPack mode/rate/channel support.
  • Missing tags: inspect metadata transfer separately from audio decoding.
  • Correction ignored: check matching names, location and decoder support.
  • Only WV supplied: ask whether a matching correction file exists for hybrid mode.
  • WVC alone fails: it requires the corresponding WV file.

WV, with WVC when needed → WAV / FLAC

  1. Establish mode and correction availability; retain the complete source set.
  2. Decode with compatible software and verify audio precision/duration and tags.
  3. Record correction-file usage and retain the source pair and verification results.

Missing correction data cannot be regenerated from lossy WV alone; do not discard WVC blindly.

Lossless, lossy and hybrid modes

The suffix does not identify compression mode; playable hybrid audio is not proof of complete restoration.

Source for these steps：WavPack · WavPack Audio Compression — modes and features / WavPack Project · WavPack User Documentation / FFmpeg · ffprobe Documentation

Preserve the matching correction pair

Renaming an unrelated WVC cannot supply correct correction data. Preserve the original pair and verify usage.

Use verification for decoding errors and separately compare tags/boundaries and listening results.

Source for these steps：WavPack · WavPack Audio Compression — modes and features / WavPack Project · WavPack User Documentation / FFmpeg · ffprobe Documentation

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
FormatMain roleWhat to check
WV losslessStandalone lossless decodingIdentify mode
WV hybridLossy component aloneMatching WVC
WVCHybrid correctionNot standalone audio

Handling and security

Back up audio/correction together and confirm sharing permission.

Questions and answers

Is all WV lossless?

No; inspect the mode.

Can WVC play alone?

It needs its matching WV.

If WV plays, is WVC unnecessary?

It may still be needed for lossless reconstruction.

How can I check that correction data was used?

Inspect decoder information/verification; audible playback alone is insufficient.

Can I rename an unrelated WVC to match?

Correction data belongs to its matching WV; locate the original pair.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
WavPack audio
Steward / specification
WavPack Project
MIME type
Depends on the producer or server; an extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources