ZMV File

What are ZMV files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a ZMV file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ZMV files.

What is a ZMV file?

A .ZMV file is a ZSNES Movie Capture file.

ZSNES Movie Capture (file extension .ZMV) is a file created by ZSNES, a Super Nintendo (SNES) emulator, to record and replay gameplay sessions. It stores every controller input, the initial game state, and save - RAM data so that the exact sequence of play - including resets or power cycles - can be reproduced later. Users make .ZMV files when using ZSNES's record-movie feature; the emulator reads them for playback, manipulation (such as inserting chapters or subtitles), or exporting to standard video formats.

When recording a movie in ZSNES, it begins by saving a snapshot ("savestate") of the game at the start of the movie. It also includes any relevant SRAM (game save data) and tracks every frame's controller input. During playback, if the version of ZSNES and the ROM used match those from recording, only the SRAM from the movie is restored; otherwise the embedded savestate is loaded. The system supports chapters (bookmarks to seek to), re-recording (inserting new inputs into existing movie), and subtitles tied to specific frames. Exporting a ZMV to AVI or dumping raw video/audio is a feature enabled via ZSNES's movie dumping settings.

Technically, a .ZMV file starts with an ASCII signature "ZMV" at offset zero.

How to open ZMV files

We have identified one ZMV opener that is compatible with this specific type of ZMV file.

Programs that open ZSNES Movie Capture files

Last updated: August 14, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of ZMV files. Remember, different programs may use ZMV files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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