Have you ever received a file in email or social app and wonder how to open it? By default, Windows, Mac and other devices will not show the extension of the files. Though you can enable to show extensions in File Explorer or Finder, you will not know what exactly the file is and the app to open it. Here is a complete list of top 100 file extensions that you frequently come across along with their purposes and how to open them.
100 File Extensions List
The “Open With” column shows the apps or method to open the file extension. Since single file type can be opened by multiple apps, we have mentioned in a generic way like “Text editors”. It could be a simple apps like Notepad, TextEdit or any other code editor apps like Visual Studio Code.
| File Extension | Name | Purpose | Open With / View |
|---|---|---|---|
| .7z | 7-Zip Archive | Compressed archive file | 7-Zip, WinZip, macOS Archive Utility |
| .ai | Adobe Illustrator File | Vector graphics file format | Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Preview |
| .aif | Audio Interchange File | Audio file format | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player |
| .apk | Android Package | Application package format for Android | Android devices, APK installation software |
| .app | macOS Application | Application package format for macOS | macOS (View in Finder) |
| .as | ActionScript File | Scripting language for Adobe Flash | Adobe Flash Professional, Text editors |
| .asp/.aspx | Active Server Pages | Server-side scripting language for web development | Text editors |
| .avi | Audio Video Interleave | Video file format | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player, QuickTime |
| .bak | Backup File | Backup copy of data or files | Text editors |
| .bat | Batch File | Script file for executing commands in sequence | Command Prompt (Windows), Terminal (macOS) |
| .bin | Binary File | Binary data file | Text editors |
| .bmp | Bitmap Image | Image file format | Windows Photos, Preview, Adobe Photoshop |
| .c | C Source Code | Programming language for system software | C compilers (GCC, Clang), Text editors |
| .cab | Cabinet File | Compressed archive file format | Windows File Explorer, WinRAR, 7-Zip |
| .cfg | Configuration File | Configuration settings for software | Text editors, Configuration management tools |
| .class | Java Class File | Compiled Java bytecode | Java runtime environment, Decompilers |
| .conf | Configuration File | Configuration settings for Unix-like systems | Text editors, Configuration management tools |
| .cpp | C++ Source Code | Programming language for general-purpose software | C++ compilers (GCC, Clang), Text editors |
| .cs | C# Source Code | Programming language for .NET platform | Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Text editors |
| .css | Cascading Style Sheet | Styling language for web development | Web browsers, Text editors |
| .csv | Comma-Separated Values | Plain text file with data separated by commas | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Text editors |
| .dat | Data File | Generic data file format | Various applications, Text editors |
| .deb | Debian Package | Package format for Debian-based Linux systems | Package managers (APT, dpkg), Archive utilities |
| .dif | Data Interchange Format | Spreadsheet data interchange format | Microsoft Excel, Text editors |
| .dll | Dynamic Link Library | Shared library used by programs on Windows | Dependency Walker |
| .dmg | Apple Disk Image | Disk image file format | macOS Disk Utility, Disk image mounting software |
| .doc | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | Word processing document (legacy format) | Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer |
| .docm | Word Macro-Enabled Document | Word processing document with macros enabled | Microsoft Word, Google Docs |
| .docx | Word Document (modern format) | Word processing document (modern format) | Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer |
| .dot | Word Document Template | Template for Microsoft Word | Microsoft Word, Google Docs |
| .dotm | Word Macro-Enabled Template | Template with macros enabled for Microsoft Word | Microsoft Word, Google Docs |
| .dwg | AutoCAD Drawing | Drawing file format for AutoCAD | AutoCAD, LibreCAD, DraftSight |
| .eps | Encapsulated PostScript | Vector graphics file format | Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Preview |
| .exe | Executable File | Program or application executable | Windows |
| .gif | Graphics Interchange Format | Animated or static image format | Web browsers, Windows Photos, Preview |
| .gz | GZIP Archive | Compressed archive file | Gzip, WinRAR, 7-Zip, macOS Archive Utility |
| .htaccess | Apache .htaccess File | Configuration file for Apache web server | Text editors |
| .html/.htm | HTML Document | Hypertext Markup Language document | Web browsers, Text editors |
| .ics | iCalendar File | Calendar data exchange format | Calendar applications, Text editors |
| .ini | Initialization File | Configuration settings for Windows applications | Text editors, Configuration management tools |
| .iso | ISO Disk Image | Disk image file format | Disk image mounting software, WinRAR, 7-Zip |
| .jar | Java Archive | Archive format for Java class files | Java runtime environment, Archive utilities |
| .java | Java Source Code | Programming language for Java platform | Java IDEs (Eclipse, IntelliJ), Text editors |
| .jpg/.jpeg | JPEG Image | Compressed image file | Windows Photos, Preview, Adobe Photoshop |
| .js | JavaScript File | Scripting language for web development | Web browsers, Text editors |
| .json | JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) | Data interchange format | Text editors, JSON viewers |
| .jsp | JavaServer Pages | Server-side scripting language for Java web applications | Web servers, Text editors |
| .key | Keynote Presentation | Presentation document format used by Keynote | Apple Keynote, iCloud |
| .log | Log File | Record of events or actions | Text editors, Log viewers |
| .m4a | M4A Audio | Compressed audio file | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player |
| .m4v | M4V Video | Compressed video file format | QuickTime, VLC Media Player |
| .mht | MHTML Web Archive | Web page archive format | Web browsers, Text editors |
| .mp3 | MP3 Audio | Compressed audio file | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player |
| .mp4 | MP4 Video | Compressed video file | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player, QuickTime |
| .mpp | Microsoft Project File | Project management file format | Microsoft Project, Project management software |
| .msi | Windows Installer Package | Installer package format for Windows | Windows Installer, Archive utilities |
| .numbers | Numbers Spreadsheet | Spreadsheet document for macOS | Apple Numbers, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets |
| .odt | OpenDocument Text Document | Open document format for text documents | LibreOffice Writer, Apache OpenOffice Writer |
| .otf | OpenType Font | Font file format | Windows Font Viewer, macOS Font Book, Font management software |
| .pages | Pages Document | Word processing document for macOS | Apple Pages, Microsoft Word, Google Docs |
| Portable Document Format | Document distribution format | Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview, Web browsers like Edge, Safari & Chrome | |
| .php | PHP Script | Server-side scripting language for web development | Text editors |
| .png | Portable Network Graphics | Lossless image format | Windows Photos, Preview, Adobe Photoshop |
| .ppt | Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation (Legacy) | Presentation document (legacy format) | Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, LibreOffice Impress |
| .pptx | Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation | Presentation document (modern format) | Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, LibreOffice Impress |
| .ps | PostScript File | Page description language file format | Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Preview |
| .psd | Photoshop Document | Native file format for Adobe Photoshop | Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo |
| .pub | Microsoft Publisher Document | Desktop publishing document format | Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, LibreOffice Draw |
| .py | Python Script | General-purpose programming language | Python IDEs (PyCharm, VSCode), Text editors |
| .rar | RAR Archive | Compressed archive file | WinRAR, 7-Zip, macOS Archive Utility |
| .rb | Ruby Script | Programming language for web development | Ruby interpreters, Text editors |
| .reg | Registry File | Windows registry data file | Registry Editor, Microsoft PowerToys, Text editors |
| .rpm | RPM Package | Package format for Red Hat-based Linux systems | Package managers (Yum, RPM), Archive utilities |
| .rtf | Rich Text Format | Document format for text with formatting | Microsoft Word, TextEdit, Google Docs |
| .sketch | Sketch File | Vector graphics and design file format | Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, Preview |
| .sql | SQL Script | Query language for managing databases | Database management systems, Text editors |
| .svg | Scalable Vector Graphics | Vector graphics file format | Web browsers, Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape |
| .swf | Shockwave Flash File | Multimedia and interactive content | Adobe Flash Player, Web browsers |
| .sys | System File | System configuration file | Text editors |
| .tar | TAR Archive | Archive format without compression | Tar, macOS Archive Utility |
| .tiff | Tagged Image File Format | Image file format | Windows Photos, Preview, Adobe Photoshop |
| .tmp | Temporary File | Temporary data file | Disk cleanup tools, Various applications |
| .tsv | Tab-Separated Values | Plain text file with data separated by tabs | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Text editors |
| .ttf | TrueType Font | Font file format | Windows Font Viewer, macOS Font Book, Font management software |
| .txt | Plain Text File | Plain text document | Notepad, TextEdit, Sublime Text, Microsoft Word |
| .wav | WAV Audio | Uncompressed audio file | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player |
| .webp | WebP Image | Image file format developed by Google | Web browsers, Preview, Adobe Photoshop |
| .wma | Windows Media Audio | Audio file format | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player |
| .wmv | Windows Media Video | Video file format | Windows Media Player, VLC Media Player |
| .woff | Web Open Font Format | Web font file format | Web browsers, Font management software |
| .woff2 | Web Open Font Format 2.0 | Improved version of WOFF | Web browsers, Font management software |
| .xls | Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) | Spreadsheet document (legacy format) | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc |
| .xlsm | Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook | Spreadsheet document with macros enabled | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets |
| .xlsx | Excel Spreadsheet (modern format) | Spreadsheet document (modern format) | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc |
| .xltm | Excel Macro-Enabled Template | Template with macros enabled for Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets |
| .xltx | Excel Template | Template for Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets |
| .xml | XML (eXtensible Markup Language) | Markup language for encoding documents | Text editors, XML parsers, web browsers |
| .xz | XZ Archive | Compressed archive file | Xz, 7-Zip, macOS Archive Utility |
| .yaml/.yml | YAML (YAML Ain’t Markup Language) | Data serialization format | Text editors, YAML parsers |
| .zip | ZIP Archive | Compressed archive file | WinRAR, 7-Zip, macOS Archive Utility |
Learn more on how to assign default app to open a file extension in Windows and Mac.
