Common Windows File Extensions

A file extension is a means that let the user and his device know a file with what kind of program it is made with. The files in computers have special features depending on the software they are made. But what are common Windows file extensions? Read the whole article to find the answers.

When you try to open a file using the incorrect program, the program will not be opened or even crashed at times. The last part of the file name is used to specify the file form so that when you try to use the file, the machine will open the correct program. Hundreds of different computer file extensions and file types are available. However, these file extensions and their related programs will not be memorized. Here are some common windows file extensions.

Extensions of Audio File

• .aif – audio file enterchange format
• .cda – track file of CD audio 
• .mid or .midi – Interface file of Musical Instrument 
• .mp3 – audio file of MPEG layer 3 
• .mpa – audio file of  MPEG layer 2 
• .ogg – audio file of Ogg Vorbis
• .wav – WAV audio file
• .wma – WMA audio file
• .wpl – Playlist of Windows Media Player 

Extensions of Compressed File

• .7z – 7-Zip compressed file
• .arj – cmpressed file of  ARJ
• .deb – package file of Debian software
• .pkg – Package file format
• .rar – RAR file format
• .rpm – File format of Red Hat Package Manager
• .tar.gz –  compressed file of Tarball 
• .z – Z compressed file format
• .zip – compressed file format of ZIP

Extensions Disc and Media File

• .bin – image file of Binary disc 
• .dmg – disk image of macOS X
• .iso –  disc image file of ISO
• .toast – disc image file of Toast
• .vcd – File format of Virtual CD 

Extensions of Data and Database File

• .csv – file format of Comma separated value
• .dat – Data file
• .db or .dbf – Database file
• .log – Log file
• .mdb –  file format of Microsoft Access database
• .sav – Save file format
• .sql –  file format of SQL database
• .tar – archive file format of Linux or Unix tarball
• .xml – XML file format

Extensions of E-mail File

• .email – Outlook Express message file of e-mail.
• .eml – message file of E-mail from multiple e-mails and Gmail clients
• .emlx – e-mail file of Apple Mail 
• .msg –  file format of Microsoft outlook email message.
• .oft – e-mail template file of Microsoft Outlook
• .ost – e-mail storage file format of Microsoft Outlook in offline
• .pst – Storage file of Microsoft Outlook e-mail
• .vcf – contact file of E-mail 

Extensions of Executable File

• .apk – package file of android
• .bat – batch file 
• .bin – binary file 
• .cgi or .pl –  script file of Perl
• .com –  command file of MS-DOS
• .exe – Executable file
• .gadget – Windows gadget file format
• .jar – Archive file of Java 
• .msi – installer package of Windows
• .py – Python file format
• .wsf – Script File of Windows

Extensions of Font File

• .fnt – font file of Windows
• .fon – font file of Generic
• .otf – font file of Open type
• .ttf – font file of True Type

Extension of Image File 

• .ai – file format of Adobe Illustrator
• .bmp -Bitmap image file format 
• .gif –  image file of GIF
• .ico –  icon file format
• .jpeg or .jpg –  image file of JPG
• .png –  image file of PNG
• .ps –  file format of Postscript
• .psd – PSD image file format
• .svg – Graphics file of Scalable Vector
• .tif or .tiff –  image file of TIFF

Extensions of Text Files

• .DOC Legacy file format of Microsoft Word Document 
• .DOCX File format of Microsoft Word Document
• .LOG Log File
• .MSG File format of Outlook Message Item
• .ODT Open Document of a Text file 
• .PAGES Document of Apple Pages
• .RTF File format of Rich Text
• .TEX Document of LaTeX Source
• .TXT File of Plain Text
• .WPD Document of WordPerfect
• .WPS Document of Microsoft Works Word Processor 

Extensions of Data Files

• .CSV File format of Comma-Separated Values
• .DAT Data File
• .GED Data File of GEDCOM Genealogy
• .KEY File format of Apple Keynote Presentation
• .KEYCHAIN Keychain File format of Mac OS X
• .PPT Legacy file format of Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
• .PPTX File format of Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
• .SDF Standard Data File
• .TAR File Archive of Consolidated Unix 
• .TAX2016 Tax Return of TurboTax 2016
• .TAX2020 Tax Return of TurboTax 2020
• .VCF vCard File

Extensions of video Files

• .3G2 Multimedia File of 3GPP2 
• .3GP Multimedia File of 3GPP 
• .ASF File format of Advanced Systems 
• .AVI Interleave File of Audio Video 
• .FLV Flash File of Video
• .M4V Video File of iTunes 
• .MOV QuickTime Movie of Apple 
• .MP4 Video File of MPEG-4 
• .MPG Video File of MPEG 
• .RM File of RealMedia 
• .SRT Subtitle File of SubRip 
• .SWF Flash Movie of Shockwave 
• .VOB Object File of DVD Video 
• .WMV Windows Media Video

Extensions of 3D image Files

• .3DM 3D Model of Rhino 
• .3DS Scene of 3D Studio
• .MAX Scene File of 3ds Max 
• .OBJ 3D Object File of Wavefront 

Extensions of Page Layout Files

• .INDD Adobe InDesign Document
• .PCT File format of Picture
• .PDF File of Portable Document Format 

Extensions of Spreadsheet Files

• .XLR Spreadsheet of Works 
• .XLS Legacy Spreadsheet of Microsoft Excel 
• .XLSX Spreadsheet of Microsoft Excel 

Extensions of Game Files

• .B Saved Game File of Grand Theft Auto 3 
• .DEM Demo File format of Video Game 
• .GAM File format of Saved Game 
• .NES ROM File format of Nintendo (NES) 
• .ROM ROM File format of N64 Game 
• .SAV Files of Saved Game

Extensions of CAD Files

• .DWG Database File of AutoCAD Drawing 
• .DXF Format File of Drawing Exchange 

Extensions of GIS Files

• .GPX File format of GPS Exchange 
• .KML File of Keyhole Markup Language 
• .KMZ Placemark file of Google Earth 

Extensions of Web Files

• .ASP File of Active Server Page
• .ASPX Extended File of Active Server Page 
• .CER Certificate of Internet Security 
• .CFM File of ColdFusion Markup 
• .CRDOWNLOAD Downloaded File of Chrome Partially 
• .CSR File of Certificate Signing Request 
• .CSS Cascading Style Sheet
• .DCR File format of Shockwave Media 
• .HTM File of Hypertext Markup Language 
• .HTML Hypertext Markup Language File
• .JS File format of JavaScript 
• .JSP Java Server Page file
• .PHP Code File of PHP Source 
• .RSS Rich Site Summary file
• .XHTML File of Extensible Hypertext Markup Language 

Extensions if Plugin Files

• .CRX File Extension of Chrome 
• .PLUGIN Plugin file of Mac OS X 

Extensions of System File

• .CAB Cabinet File for Windows 
• .CPL Control Panel Item for Windows 
• .CUR Windows Cursor file
• .DESKTHEMEPACK Theme Pack File for Windows 8 Desktop 
• .DLL Dynamic Link Library file
• .DMP Memory Dump format for Windows 
• .DRV Device Driver
• .ICNS Resource File for macOS Icon 
• .ICO Icon File
• .LNK Windows Shortcut
• .SYS System File for Windows 

Extensions of Settings File

• .CFG Configuration File
• .INI File format of Windows Initialization
• .PRF File format of Outlook Profile 

Extensions of Encoded File

• .HQX Encoded File of BinHex 4.0 
• .MIM Message File format of Multi-Purpose Internet Mail 
• .UUE Uuencoded File

Conclusion

Two forms are useful for file extension. It allows you to recognize the document form. An extension of your file can also automatically run the right program if you double-click on the name of the file. So, when you see the file extension of any file, it becomes easy for you and your device to know about the file type. We hope, now you know a lot about the common Windows file extensions.