Opening a WAX File

The WAX file type is primarily associated with Windows Media Player.

WAXFile Extension WAX
 File extension: WAX
File type:  playlist/redirector file

What is a WAX file

WAX files mostly belong to Windows Media Player. WAX files are used by Windows Media Player as files that redirect the player to actual audio streams rather than containing the audio data themselves.
These files work in a few ways:
  • Audio Playlist: They function as playlists that list media locations for Windows Media Audio.
  • RIFF-structured Audio: Some WAX files use the RIFF format to indicate a standard WAVE file structure.
  • Audiobook XML: Certain variants are encoded in UTF-16 (LE) to hold XML data for audiobooks.
  • Advanced Stream Redirector: Others serve solely as redirection files, guiding Windows Media Player to the proper media stream.
    • FilExt.com tip: These formats use internal methods—whether RIFF or XML—to optimize how the player accesses the content. For further technical details, see Microsoft Support or visit Microsoft Windows.

    How can I open a WAX file?

    You need a suitable software like Windows Media Player to open a WAX file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your WAX file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a WAX file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

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    Programs that open and convert WAX files:

    1. Windows Media Player
      See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. WAX files are often referred to as Windows Media Player audios because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
    2. Audio
    3. Procomm Plus Compiled Script File
    4. Windows Media (Audio Redirector) by Microsoft Corporation
      This file type is used for WMA Media redirection. Use a text editor to create an .WAX file that contains a single line: the full URL to the .WMA file (e.g., MYAUDIO.WAX contains http://mysite.com/myvideo.wma as its only entry). Use ASCII mode to upload the .WAX file and binary mode to upload the .WMA file. Be certain the server has audio/x-ms-wma as the MIME type for the .WMA file extension and audio/x-ms-wax for the .WAX file extension. You can then link to the .WAX file with the following HTML code: <a href="myaudio.wax" type="audio/x-ms-wax">Play My Audio</a> The Mime types used with this association are: audio/x-ms-wax. Related links: Media Player Formats, MattBatt iAM-player, AudioPlayer

    Technical Data for WAX File Extension

    File classification:
    Audio
    Related files:
    wma, wmv, wpl, asx, m3u, wmz, aac, mp3, rpm, wav, wmd, wmx, xml
    Related links:
    Media Player Formats, MattBatt iAM-player, AudioPlayer
    Mime type:
    audio/x-ms-wax

    The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

    ProgramID: AshampooMediaPlayer.AudioFile, FileType: Ashampoo Media Player+ audio file, AppName: Ashampoo Media Player+
    ProgramID: SlowView WMA, AppName: SlowView
    EXEFile: SlowView.exe
    ProgramID: Sonique.File, FileType: Sonique File, AppName: Sonique
    ProgramID: UltraPlayer.AudioFile, FileType: UltraPlayer File, AppName: UltraPlayer Multimedia Player Application
    EXEFile: UPlayer.exe
    ProgramID: WAXFile, FileType: Windows Media Audio shortcut, AppName: ASFRecorder
    ProgramID: WAXFile, FileType: Windows Media Audio shortcut, AppName: auto
    EXEFile: wmplayer.exe
    ProgramID: WAXFile, FileType: Windows Media Audio shortcut, AppName: Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player
    ProgramID: WAXFile, FileType: Windows Media Audio shortcut, AppName: Windows Media Player
    EXEFile: mplayer2.exe
    ProgramID: WAXFile, FileType: Windows Media Audio shortcut, AppName: Windows Media Player
    EXEFile: wmplayer.exe
    ProgramID: Morpheus.Video
    EXEFile: C:\Documents and Settings\Jimmy Son\Desktop\Media Downloads\Morpheus\Morpheus.exe %1
    ProgramID: RealPlayer.wax.6
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Real\RealOne Player\RealPlay.exe %1
    ProgramID: RealPlayer.wax.6
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe %1
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe /Open %L
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe /Play %L
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe /Open
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe /Open %L
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WINDOW~1\wmplayer.exe /Open %L
    ProgramID: Sonique.File
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Sonique\Sonique.exe %1
    ProgramID: ACEMegaCoDecSPack.PlaylistFileS
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACE Mega CoDecS Pack\Media Player Classic\mplayerc.exe %1 /open
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: C:\Unzipped\ASFRecorder\ASFRecorder.exe %L
    ProgramID: WAXFile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JetAudio\JetAudio.exe %1
    ProgramID: Winamp.PlayList
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Winamp\winamp.exe
    ProgramID: RealPlayer.wax.6
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Media Player Classic\mplayerc.exe
    ProgramID: ACEMegaCoDecSPack.PlaylistFileS
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACE Mega CoDecS Pack\BSPlayer\bsplayer.exe /open
    ProgramID: CtraxPlayer.2.File
    EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\CtrxPl.exe /Play
    ProgramID: ACEMegaCoDecSPack.PlaylistFileS
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACE Mega CoDecS Pack\Media Player Classic\mplayerc.exe
    ProgramID: WMP11.AssocFile.WAX
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe /Open
    ProgramID: QMP.playlist
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Quintessential Media Player\QMPlayer.exe /open
    ProgramID: Ares.Playlist
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ares\Ares.exe
    ProgramID: Ares.Playlist
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ares.exe
    ProgramID: Ares Ultra.Playlist
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ares Ultra\Ares Ultra.exe
    ProgramID: qvodplayer.wax
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QvodPlayer\QvodPlayer.exe -localfile
    ProgramID: Ares.Playlist
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ares\Ares.exe
    ProgramID: WMP11.AssocFile.WAX
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Media Player Classic\mplayerc.exe
    ProgramID: stormplayer.wax
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\StormII\Storm.exe /play
    ProgramID: RealPlayer.wax.6
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Dhamu\Download\RealPlay.exe
    Show all 36 listingsTo Top

    a wax playlist/redirector file is a special file format and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

    How to solve problems with WAX files

    • Associate the WAX file extension with the correct application.
    • Update your software that should actually open playlist/redirector files. Because only the current version supports the latest WAX file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the manufacturer website after an available Windows Media Player update.
    • To make sure that your WAX file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
    • Click here to open your .WAX file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.
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