File extension What are they, what are they for and what types are there?
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The file extension is an invaluable resource for our computers (and more and more devices like phones or TVs) know how to work with files that we are including in them and they execute and reproduce them correctly.
For this to happen, we must classify them and create. with it, the way to differentiate one from the other. This is precisely what we achieve with extensions, which basically give us information about the element they name.
With the following post you will discover exactly what is a file or file extension, what is it for, how is it usedwhat types exist, how to open them with the most used programs and, of course, how to know what the extension of each of our files is.
What is the extension of a file or file and what is it really for?
We will start by saying that the extension of any file is the set of letters or letters and numbers that we find, with a period, after the name that we put For example, we transfer a photo to the computer, retouch it and save it as “giraffe”.
Depending on the program used, you will see that when you go to check your file, it has something else after the word “giraffe”, it will be, for example, “giraffe.jpegor giraffe.psd“. Those endings, the ones that go after the name that you choose, are the extensions. But, of course, it is more than just characters. This one has a function and that is to give us information.
Specifically, it gives so that the operating system that we have installed knows what type of file it is the one we want to open (song, spreadsheet, animation, video, image…), that is, so that the content it includes can be distinguished. And why do you have to know? Very easy, to find the right software to run it, run it and show it to you. In short, to know what you can do with it.
However, as you can imagine, this information is also useful for the user himself who, knowing the characteristics of the extensions, you will be able to know, more or less, the qualities that each of your files has. For example, if you see a track in .mp3 you will quickly know that it is compressed audio and, therefore, its quality is not studio quality; if you see an image in .png you will know that it has no background, and so on.
The extension, in most cases, it refers to a format, which is why many users use both concepts as synonyms (in fact, we also do it in cases where the first correctly refers to the second). However, it is necessary to clarify that Although we all use them interchangeably, they are two different concepts..
The extension is, as we have seen, the nomenglature for the system. This refers, as we say, to a format with which it shares the name. However, this is not always the case, as it can also happen that the extension is that of a format containerwhich is nothing more than a resource that, as its name suggests, contains different elements, which will, in fact, be saved in different formats if the option is given.
This helps us, in addition to knowing this, to know that, even if we change an extension, the file format will not be modified; the only thing we do is change the interpretation of the information, that is, the way in which we tell the system to work with the file.
For this reason, if you have an audio track, rename it, delete the “.mp3” and change it to “.jpeg”, it won’t convert to an image, it does not make any sense. Thus, when your computer sees a “.jpeg” it will default to a program that works with images (because it thinks it is an image and not a song) and you will see that, logically, there is a problem when opening the file because, as is logical, an image program cannot open an audio file, which is what it still is.
File types, their extensions and their associated programs
as you can imagine, computer files can be counted in the hundreds. For this reason, it is usual to know them by classifying them according to the type of file they refer to. For example, a song, as we will now see first, can weigh 5 times more in one format than in another and its quality can be very different depending on the form it has been given.
We will begin by indicating that those discussed below are the most used, whether we know it or not, and, therefore, the best known, although, there are hundreds and hundreds of different extensions that are not well known because they have already fallen into disuse or because they are very specific, for example, for an operating system of little use or for a single program, etc.
Audio file extensions
The audio files can be voice recordings that we make with the microphone or the webcam, fragments cut from other audios, songs purchased from iTunes or recorded from a CD…
Obviously, they are not going to be used in the same way and, therefore, their characteristics, to be an optimized resource, must be different. Thus, a podcast, for example, will have very little weight, since it is designed to be posted on a website, a studio song, on a CD, will have the highest quality, identical to the studio output, to enjoy the product, etc.
We show you which are the most popular audio file extensions, we talk about their characteristics and we also give you advice on the different software and devices with which they are played.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.mp3
It maintains high (CD) quality relative to its excellent compression of 1/10 or more.
Minimum weight, with 1 Megabyte per minute of music.
Easy to get from a .wav.
Main format on websites.
MP3 players
all browsers
The vast majority of audio playback software (Windows Media Player, iTunes, VLC, MAX Tray Player, 5K Player, Winamp, Real Player, Rhythmbox…)
.wav
Developed by Microsoft.
PCM encoded to maintain Sample Rate and Bit Depth, without loss of quality.
Quintessential extension to save original audio.
It offers different sample size.
Perfect quality.
Huge weight (between 20 and 30 Mb per song).
Sample at 8 or 16 bits.
Saveable with different compression.
Frequent use for short snippets in mono.
professional use.
Compatible with the vast majority of codecs
CD players
microsoft zune
Any popular player software (iTunes, QuickTime Player, Microsoft Windows Media Player, VLC, Real Player, JetAudio, ALLPlayer…)
Multimedia suites (Nero, Helium Music Manager, Movavi Audio Suite Personal…)
Audio converters (MID converter, Wondershare Video Converter…)
On all operating systems
.aiff
Apple’s .wav version.
PCM encoding.
Double stereo audio channel.
High quality.
Great weight.
No compression.
Players (iTunes, Apple QuickTime Player, Nullsoft Winamp Media Player, Winamp, Media Player Classic…)
Audio editors (Adobe Audition CS6, AIFF MP3 Converter, AIFF Player Plus, AIFF Converter Plus, FLV Crhunch for Mac…)
.wma
The alternative to mp3 offered by Microsoft (same bit rate)
A compressed .wav.
Compressible to different variables up to 768 kbit/s.
Windows Suite Half
browsers
Converters (Xiisoft Video Converter, Power WMA Recorder, Bluefox WMA MP3 converter, 4Musics WMA Bitrate Changer, HiFi WMA Cutter…)
Players (VLC Media Player, Media Player Classic, Winamp, ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater, Mullsoft Winamp Media Player…)
.OGG
Alternative to .mp3, open source.
Great lossy compression, but not too much.
Commons on Spotify for this balance.
It usually requires external codecs.
It can also contain video.
The sample rate is highly variable, offering many quality and compression alternatives.
Spotify
Player software (AIMP, VLC Media Player, Xion Audio Player, Audials One, Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player, 5K Player, Media Player Lite, Elmedia Player…)
Player software installing codecs (Windows Media Player)
GPS and browsers using extensions like Web Media Extensions
.FLAC or .FLA
Lossless or lossless audio format.
Open, free license.
Compression up to 60% with minimal loss of quality.
Transmission of sample rates up to 1411 kbps.
Very flexible.
Metadata tagging.
It does not store floating point data.
Much use in recordings
Tidal Platform
Players with codecs (VLC Player, Foobar 2000, AIMP, Clementime
Players, with plugins (Windows Media Player with DirectShow filter, Fluke, dBpoweramp…)
Mobile apps (Pi Player, Powerap, Pulsar, TuneShell if stored on SoundCloud…)
It automatically adapts to the reception capabilities of users.
Players (RealPlayer, JetAudio, VLC Media Player, KMPlayer…)
Converters (Xilisoft Video Converter, Ultimate Video Covenverter, Xine, Switch Sound File Converter for Mac…)
Browsers, with RealPlayer plugin
.cda
CD files
CD players
.aac
It is based on a compression algorithm that includes loss.
The quality is higher than that of mp3.
Entire data is lost, especially redundancies and frequencies that our ears do not hear.
Maximum bitrate of 1536 kbps.
The bit rate is variable.
Designed as an extension to MPEG-2
Great use on the internet and in digital radio broadcasting.
Allows you to include copyright protection.
It requires very few resources.
Converters (Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate, AAC Converter, Free Apple AAC, AAC to MP3 Converter, Any Audio Converter, Freemake Audio Converter…)
Players (RealPlayer, VLC Media Player, Media Player Classic, KMPlayer, Winamp, Free AAC MP3 Lite, Audacity, ALLPlayer, MPlayer, Winamp…)
.ac3
It does a perceptual compression to eliminate everything that our ear does not perceive.
There is a frequency limit of 120 Hz.
Supports both mono and stereo
Players (Apple QuickTime Player, Microsoft Windows Media Player, MPlayer, CyberLink PowerDVD 12, Nullsoft Winamp Media Player, Media Player CLassic, VLC Media Player…)
Converters (Free AC 2 iPaod shuffle Converter Pro, Nero Burning ROM, AC3 Splitter, AC3 to OOG Free Converter…)
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Image file extensions
Images are a very versatile resource highly used in computing. Furthermore, they are, perhaps, las they more easily allow us to see the differences between one image file extension and another.
Knowing them we can know if it is a file designed to be printed, if it is rendered or vectorial, the number of colors it has, its approximate weight…
We are going to see which are the best known image files and what we use, what characteristics they have and what we can use to view and edit them.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.jpeg or .jpg
More famous.
Raster image.
For graphics, photography and web.
You have losses.
Its weight is small.
Unsuitable for small resolution.
Ideal for HD printing.
Image editors (all general)
Image viewers (all general)
Navigators (all generals)
.gif
Raster image.
Graphics Interchange Format.
With transparency.
With animation.
256 colors.
Lossless in a conventional way but with the possibility of compressing.
Common use in graphics, practically exclusively for the web.
New open standard for 24-bit lossy graphics compression on the web released by Google.
Lossless compression, transparency (alpha channel) and animations.
30% smaller than PNG or JPEG files.
Designed for web pages.
EXIF and XMP metadata.
Viewers like IrfanView.
Web browsers (Chrome and Opera)
Photoshop using extensions.
On the Google Squoosh.app website
.DWG
The DraWinG or .DWG is one of the most important, especially for AutoCAD users.
It is used to store graphic information of a digital design, it stores vector information.
It has different versions of DraWinG called DXF or Drawing eXchange File.
Autodesk AutoCAD.
MicroStation.
Vector Works.
Sketch Up.
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Compressed file extensions
These, intended for keep different files of the same element in a safe place, move them easily and, by the way, weigh lessare really known and used by most.
They all comply with what has been said but it is necessary to know that, as in the other cases, each compressed file extension is going to tell us something more about the information it accompanies.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.arc
It is an old format for exclusive use on computers.
Existing, however, on all platforms
OpenUp, Stuffit
.arj
slow compression.
It appears in the 90s and is practically in disuse.
Very flexible.
Multiple decompression schedules
.bin
An encoded from Macbinary II.
Generic, along with .hqx, today.
Great compression.
It must be converted to Binary or MacBinary.
Mac computers with Stuffit Expander
On Windows, with suites that work with ISOs
.dmg
Mac OS X disk image.
The equivalent of ISO on a Mac.
They allow you to start, copy, and burn your content to an external storage drive.
No app needed on Mac.
PeaZip (for example) for other operating systems
.gz or .gzip
From GNU Project
Replacement for Compress, from Unix.
Use in PC and Unix file
Use of the Deflate algorithm, which combines Huffman and LZ77 coding.
It is only a set of compressed files, without archiving.
Development of own library (zlib).
Tar packs the files.
All kinds of freeware and shareware applications like Spread, Coldcompress, Freezeit, MrGip…
.hqx
From BinHex.
Standard par excellence on Mac.
A binary converted to ASCII.
BinHex, NutCase, or Stuffit Expander on Mac
Latest version of BinHex for Windows
.sit or .sitx
Extension of the Stuffit program.
Macintosh native.
Very versatile.
Very good level of compression.
Stufit Deluxe
Stuffit Expander for Windows
.be
From MacOS, equivalent to .exe, that is, it is self-extracting (with its own engine).
No software required
.ACE
WinACE native.
Very high compression ratio as well as decompression.
Very fast.
Great compatibility with long names.
WinACE, Windows Commander, PCTools
.uu or .uue
From UUencode, originally from Unix.
Conversion of binary files into text and 7 bits.
Common in email
Usually automatic decompression
Stuffit Expander, WinRar, WinZip or UU Undo itself
.7Z
Compressed on Unix.
Binary file.
gZip, Stuffit Expander, or WinZip
.zip
Standard compression on Windows and DOS.
Fast but lower compression than many others.
any decompressor
.rar
Slow execution.
Very high compression.
A large data redundancy system.
WinRar, WinZip, 7-zip, The Unarchiver, iZip (Mac)
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Text file extensions
Obviously, one of the things we most often do on our computer (and on phones and tablets) is to read. We read books, we read instructions, we read pdfs, we read song lyrics on websites, we read blog posts…
Although the text could be, a priori, the resource that accepts the fewest changes (or that we least need it to change, rather), the truth is that it also has a number of formats and, with it, different extensions. Thus, we can use it in the most convenient way in each situation. Find out what each type of text file offers you by reading the following table.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.doc
It is the extension created automatically by the Word program of the Microsoft suite.
It began to be used with WordPerfect.
It currently offers rich text, including both formatting (bold, indentation, etc.) and images added to the document, scripts, tables…
Microsoft Word
Free Office
WPSOffice
AbiWord
Other alternative office suites
Apple Pages
Google Docs
Chrome Office Viewer
.docx
It is the XML-based version of the .doc that was released in 2007.
The document is more compressed.
Same as for .doc
.txt
It is an ASCII text file, without formatting. The text is plain, no italics, no margins, no nothing, not even pages.
Its complexity is, logically, null.
It is used in registers and download instructions.
Notes blog
note pad
Microsoft Word
AppleTextEdit
.HTM or .HTML
This is a hypertext markup file.
They only contain text and/or references to other types of external files (images, videos, JS…).
It is used in conventional web pages.
browsers
Editing and creation programs (Komodo, Eclipse, Bluefish, Adobe Dreamweaver…).
memo pad
.nfo
Small plain text, usually descriptive.
Very useful for compressed files, accompanying warez.
All text editors
.rtf
Rich Text Format or enriched text.
It allows the exchange of content between word processors and systems, that is, cross-platform.
It works with codes to define characteristics of the text, which is encoded with an ASCII boundary.
All word processors.
.wri
A file that has style.
It is generated specifically by Windows Microsoft Write.
Windows Microsoft Write
other processors
.odt
Free standard encoding file.
Rich text identical to .docx.
Generated by OpenOffice.
open-office
Other office suite word processors (Libre Office, Microsoft Office…)
.epub
Extension to indicate that this content is an electronic publication of a content with rights.
It includes text with all kinds of dressings both in format and in complements.
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System file extensions
these may be the least significant for users Well, in fact, they accompany files that, if we do not have advanced computer knowledge, we should not touch. So much so that Windows, in fact, hides them by default so that we don’t make a mistake and mess up the system.
However, as you can understand, these files are the most important that we can have on our computer because, after all, they are the ones that make it work and save its configurations and other aspects.
Therefore, although we should not modify these files, it is absolutely necessary to know what they are precisely to avoid doing it and to always keep them safe.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.vxd
Virtual device driver.
It accesses kernel memory, running processes, and hardware.
Its installation occurs with the operating system.
It does not need to be opened; Windows makes it work
.sys
It is a file of the operating system.
Check that its operation is correct.
They shape it, differentiating it from other versions and other OS.
System updates change them
.reg
Windows registry file.
Saves information (modification, addition or subtraction of values and keys) about the installed applications.
Registry editor on double click
Editing with right click opens with Notepad
.ocx
They are dynamic link libraries.
Controls publishing modules and functions of Windows programs.
It requires registration in the system, although this is usually automatic.
Development platforms for Windows such as Visual Basic
macro languages
script languages
Embedded in files with OLE support
.ini
Start file.
It includes all sorts of configuration information about everything that starts with it.
Windows system boot
Boot for some GNU/Linux environments
.fon, .otf or .ttf
They are font (text) files.
They come with the system and can be downloaded to get different fonts.
They are installed in the OS by means of a button
font viewer
.drv
Driver file for devices connected to the board by bus or cable.
Define parameters of these to synchronize them and communicate with the OS.
Windows
.dll
They are dynamic link libraries, executable files loaded at the command of the operating system.
They are required to run both pre-installed system software and third-party software, giving them the ability to share resources.
Windows
.bin
It has data in binary and is used by various non-text software without us realizing it.
Your information is processed, in part, as text (translated without formatting), but most of it is formatting and other functionalities.
Hex editors
.bat
Batch processing file.
They are texts (MS-DOS instructions) without formatting.
The work is in groups, carried out sequentially to achieve automation.
Windows, OS/2 and DOS
.com
Executable file.
Very simple structure.
Direct and linear storage of the memory image of each software (single segment)
Windows, OS/2, QDOS, MS-DOS, CP/M and PC-DOS
.exe
Relocatable executable code file, with relative memories.
Source code with header and segments.
It enables the operation of a program but is not part of it.
Native use on Windows, ReactOS, DOS and OS/2
.pnf
OS configuration file.
It is created with the execution of an INF
It does not need to be opened; stored in OS directory
.386
It is a device driver that enables communication between the device and the system.
It is a previous denomination of the current .vxd. There are (were) many others.
It does not need to be opened; systems do function
.APK
Android apps and games.
Android Application Package.
Android OS with “Unknown Sources” activation
With APK emulators for PCs
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Video file extensions
Downloading a video in one format or another can make that we run out of data on the mobile or that, on the contrary, we continue to have a good number of them to navigate with ease. In addition to this, the format in which it is saved will allow them to reproduce on computers, DVD players, mp4 players, game consoles, each one being more or less accessible.
Take a look at the following table to know the characteristics of each of the video extensions.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.mp4
Video and audio standard.
Good quality.
Results in resolution up to UHD.
Allows more than one audio channel.
Files of little weight thanks to a very good compression.
MP4 players
game consoles
DVD’s
Digital TVs with USB
smartphones
Player software (Winows Media, VLC, DivX Plus Player, CyberLink PowerDVD, Media Player Classic, Winamp, iTunes, MP4 Player…)
It is a container that can include all kinds of information, not just video.
They distribute audiovisual content of all definitions.
You can store multiple audio tracks and subtitles.
Good quality for video.
Takes up little space.
TVs, via USB
All kinds of player software
.asf
Specifically designed for streaming.
It is encoded with the vast majority of codecs.
Mainly browsers.
.QT or .QTL
Container for one or more tracks.
Each of them works with a different encoding data stream.
As a result we have a compressed video file
Very flexible files, interesting for editing.
Player software (QuickTime, Roxio Toast, Eltima Elmedia, Adobe Flash Professional CC, CyberLink PowerDVD…)
.avi
Standard digital video format,
You can include multiple audio streams in one file,
Excellent video quality.
Considerable weight.
Supports a wide variety of compression codecs.
Requires element interleave.
These are called chuncks and an identifier is associated with them.
All players although some require additional codec installation
Standard storage from video camera
.mov or .QT
It has its own codec.
High quality.
Used to publish videos on the network.
Good use for streaming.
Ideal for editing due to its structure and the ease of separating the tracks.
digital video cameras
PlayStation and XBox consoles
QuickTime as main multimedia system
Media Player if the codecs are downloaded
Linux and VLC Players
.MPEG (MPG)
It is also a standard that other extensions adhere to.
compressed video
Compendium of several standards (MPEG-1 (low resolution), MPEG-2 (for DVDs and digital satellite and cable TV), MPEG-4 -it is the .mp4 that we have seen first-, MPEG-7, MPEG-21 )
DVD players
Own player, Xing MPEG Player
Players (Windows Media, VLC, Media Player Classic, Winamp, iTunes, Apple QuickTime Player…)
Video editors (CyberLink PowerDirector, CyberLink PowerDVD…)
Converters (Xilisoft Video Converter,
.WebM
Free and open standard
It is used with HTML5
Requires external container, MKV
Converters (Total Video Converter, WebM Converter, Bigasoft WebM Converter, Miro Video Converter…)
Browsers (Google Chrome, Opera, Internet Explorer, Firefox…)
Players (VLC Media Player, Media Player Classic, MediaCoder, MPlayer, Winamp, Windows Media Player…)
.RealMedia, .RM, .RM or .RMVB
used for video streaming
Compress with own codec.
Good quality/weight ratio that allows it to be uploaded on the internet.
Converters (ShedWorx Smart Converter, Xilisoft Video Converter, Freemake Video Converter, Smart Converter…)
.FLV or .SWF
The video is configurable in various aspects.
proprietary software; requires paid programs to encode video.
Fairly good visual quality and low bitrate.
Use to transmit flash video on the internet, for streaming and in repositories such as Google Video, YouTube…
Browsers, with plugin installation (except Chrome, which does not need it)
Adobe Flash Player as the main player
Players (VLC, MPlayer, Riva, Xine…)
.wmv or .asf
Work with non-standard MPEG.
Proprietary format, requires payment converters
High resolution video.
Multi-channel audio.
Use for internet video publishing and streaming
Any Windows app
Xbox and PlayStation consoles
Players (Nullsoft Winamp media Player, VLC Media Player, Media Player Classic…)
.VOB or .DVD
Work with VOB container.
Limited resolution.
It is created with Windows DVD Maker.
It is placed on physical, optical discs.
DVD players
Consoles
DVD editors
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Internet File Extensions
They are those that refer to all the information that is related, in turn, to both servers and websites. Thus, we speak of static and dynamic pages or files referenced and generated by web development software.
Extension
Characteristic
Program
.asp
Microsoft Active Server Pages
Active page technology with which to use scripts and other components in HTML, displaying dynamic sites.
Executes in code by user interaction
browsers
Viewers like Dreamweaver or EditPlus
.css
Cascading style sheet.
Document written in markup language.
Sets the visual design of a web document and user interfaces.
It’s also for non-visual styles.
View in any browser
Publishers like Dreamwaver
Plain text compatible software (Notepad, Notepad…)
.html
Web page creation standard.
It encodes all kinds of elements.
Allows you to insert files with URLs.
It shows a final result but it is code.
View in any browser
Certain email software
.url
Resource (video, image, text…) that is shared on the network.
Basic format.
any browser
.js or .jse
Plain text with scripts.
Functions and variables are stored in it, which will be executed on the web without the need to embed the scripts
Any text editor (Notepad, Notepad, Word…)
.jsp
Document with source code to generate dynamic content and a server container.
It consists of HTML, SVG, XML, and other plain text markup.
text editors
browsers
.php
Encrypted hypertext file.
They give functions and characteristics to the site in which they are included and that are given online.
Your work takes place in set with the HTML.
text editors
browsers
Site creation software
PHP compilers
.xml
Metalanguage for defining markup languages for specific use.
Global and open standard.
Create custom labels.
Represents information on a web.
It is based on text.
text editors
spreadsheet software
Drive
.msg
Outlook email files.
It is not visible but what is behind each email you write.
It contains all the information of this.
text editors
browsers
Outlook mail app
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How can I find out what extension a file has?
We are going to see several methods for you to get this information.
Keep extensions visible
By default, extensions are hidden. However, it is highly recommended to enable its display when we see the name of the files.
This is mainly because, if not, we have no idea what kind of files we are letting sleep on our devices. You may be thinking you are downloading a pdf and before you know it, malware has sneaked into you that you yourself have executed when trying to open the file.
In addition, as we have mentioned before, seeing the file extension helps us to know some of their characteristics, which we have already seen in the previous point. So, if it doesn’t mean anything negative and it does bring benefits… why would we not want to see this nomenglature?
walk into any binder.
Click on the “File, Archive“from the upper area.
Now click on “Change folder and search options“.
The configuration window of the options available to the folder will open. Choose the tab “Watch“, in the upper area.
You will see a box with a number of checked and unchecked options. Go to “Hide file extensions for unknown file types“. Take off the tick.
Finish by clicking on “To accept“, which is how you will save the changes, which take effect immediately, without having to restart.
on side panel
What we will do is modify the view we have of the folders, choosing one in which, when selecting a file, its information is available in an exclusive area on the right.
open the binder where the file whose extension you want to find is located (it needs to be in a folder, yes).
Click, above, on “View“.
Now, to the right, about “details pane“.
Click on the file. You will see that you now have one panel to the rightin the folder area, where information is offered of this, including the one we’re looking for.
In detail view
Similar to the above we have the detail view of the files.
This is achieved as follows:
open the binder where is the file.
Click on “View“.
Now do the same in “Details“.
You will see that the way to view the files now includes, in columns, various information and that one of them corresponds to the file type and, with it, with its logical extension.
Check file properties
Another option, if you decide that the extension is not visible by default, is to consult the information of the file that interests you.
This is achieved simply:
Making right click about the file.
Clicking on the option “Properties“.
You will see a window with different tabs open. In the tab “General” you will see what type of file is itas is, including the extension it has in parentheses.
Open the file
If you don’t have it in a folder you can try to open the file; in the menu of recommended programs for this you will find the extension it has.
Beam right click in the file in question.
Click on “To open with“.
Draw the software options recommended by the system and click on “Choose another app“.
You will see that a window opens in which, once again, you are advised of some programs that the system considers to be suitable. If you look down you’ll see there is a message that you can mark and that tells you to always use an X program to open files of that type, and, indeed, it is in this message that the extension is discovered.
Other file extensions to note are:
.Key
.Jsf
.Dat
.iso
.Deb
.jar
.Opus
.vcf
.Kmz
.xlsx
.xls
.eml
.pptx
.aac
.rpm
.3gp
How to choose with which program to open each file extension?
To finish, we want to show you two ways to choose which software to open each type of file with; one is focused on using the same program for each extension and the other does the same by type of application.
Know the right program
To get started choose a program that will open your extensions first it will be necessary to know which is the most suitable, No? Although at present our own system is very intelligent and will recommend the best between what we have installed and also what we can buy in its own store, the truth is that there are ways outside of this to know the software that is most useful. or suitable are for each file.
For example, on the web fileinfo.com you can simply enter in the search engine the name of the extensionclick on “Search” and receive a complete article in response explaining what it is and what interests us, with which programs to open it in the different operating systems. Now all you have to do is check if you have them installed on your computer or if you have to get them.
Choose how to open an extension
If what you want is to choose a default program for a specific extension, knowing that getting it is as simple as following the last method that we have just seen in the previous point.
In any case, do the following:
Open the context menu of the file by doing right click about this.
Then click on “To open with“.
Now scroll down to “Choose another app“.
The new window that appears tells you the software that is being used so far.
You are also given some other recommended options.
Finally, you haveMore apps“. If none of the recommended ones interests you, click on this option. The recommendations will be expanded.
If you still can’t find the one you like, click on “Find another app on your computer“. In this case it will be opened to you a destination folder and you will have to find yourself and choose the program with which you want to open the extension.
Regardless of the program chosen, before confirming anything, press to tick the option below the list of programs “Always use this app to open .XXX files“.
Now yes, click on “To accept“. From this moment on, each of the files on your computer that have this extension will be executed with the software you have chosen.
Choose a default schedule for filegroups
If what you want is for the system to be the one that, considering a group of files, opens it with a particular program, choose to follow these steps:
In the search bar of the menu of “Start“, type “Default apps“.
As always, you are given some recommendations related to the content that is on your computer. Obviously, one of the configuration options is this, called as is (in Windows 10), click it.
A configuration folder will open in which you will have different application groups. Click on one you want to change.
A small window will open with various options known to the system as compatible for the file type you have selected.
Click on the program that is to your liking.
If the software you are interested in is not among the options:
Click on the last option “Find an app in the Microsoft Store“.
The store will open from Microsoft with useful programs to open this file. press the one you want.
In the new window, click on “Get“.
After in “Install“. You will see an installation progress bar. When the installation is finished, press the ” button.Install” will have been transformed into “Start“, from which you can, if you wish, open the application.
Exit the “Settings” folderDefault apps“.
Go back inside.
Click again on the file group to modify.
Now you will see that the program you have downloaded from the store appears; click about him.
Computing
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