List of File Extensions in Windows [Explained]

List of Different files extensions and file types used in Windows 11/10/8/7 PC

In this post, we are going to discuss on List of File Extensions in Windows PC/Laptop. This list helps you to understand actually what types of file extensions and files types stored in your computer and what are their purposes. Let’s starts the discussion.

‘List of File Extensions and file types used in Windows 11/10/8/7’:

When you open Windows PC/Laptop, you may notice files that are stored in your computer’s hard drive are of different file types and file extensions. Some files are audio or video files which can be played only with media player software/multimedia player software while some files are of documents type that can be opened with some software like MS Word, Wordpad, Notepad or other software depending on files types and extensions.

Files with different file extensions have different meanings and purposes. If you are on Windows 11/10/8/7 computer and impossible for you to memorize all files types and extensions, then you are in right-place to understand actually what the file types and extensions of files you are having. This list will help you to categorised files in future so you can move and save the files depending on their files types and extensions.

For example, once you understand there are some files of .MP3 audio files, then you can then store them in a single folder where you can save all audio files. Similarly, the list will help you to understand about other files extensions as well and then you can understand what is the use of files having specific extensions and files type. Let’s take a look at list.

List of File Extensions in Windows PC/Laptop:

1: Files Extensions of Audio File Formats:

There are several audio files formats, standards and file extensions used in Windows PCs. Following list are the most common audio files extensions.

• .mp3 – MP3 audio file
• .mpa – MPEG-2 audio file
• .ogg – Ogg Vorbis audio file
• .wav – WAV file
• .wma – WMA audio file
• .aif – AIF audio file
• .cda – CD audio track file
• .mid or .midi – MIDI audio file.
• .wpl – Windows Media Player playlist

2: File Extensions to Compressed files

I think you are familiar with mostly used compressed files i.e., .zip files, but there are other types of compressed files used in Windows PCs. Here, check the list.

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

3: Data and Database file extensions

Some files are used to store data that used for databases, errors, information, importing and exporting. Here, the list of file extensions of data and database types.

• .sav – Save file (e.g., game save file)
• .sql – SQL database file
• .tar – Linux / Unix tarball file archive
• .xml – XML file
• .csv – Comma separated value file
• .dat – Data file
• .db or .dbf – Database file
• .log – Log file
• .mdb – Microsoft Access database file

4: Disc and media files extensions

When you create disc image of disc or other media, all of the contained files are stored to an image file. Here, the list of common disc image files extensions.

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

5: Email File Extensions

Here, the list of common file extensions for email and associated files.

• .emlx – Apple Mail e-mail file.
• .msg – Microsoft Outlook e-mail message file.
• .oft – Microsoft Outlook e-mail template file.
• .email – Outlook Express e-mail message file.
• .eml – E-mail message file from multiple e-mail clients, including Gmail.
• .ost – Microsoft Outlook offline e-mail storage file.
• .pst – Microsoft Outlook e-mail storage file.
• .vcf – E-mail contact file.

6: Executable file extensions

You have definitely notice files with .exe file extensions that are executable files in computer, but there are some other files can also be run by themselves or with the aid of interpreter.

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

7: Font file extensions

Here, the list of file extensions of font types.

• .fnt – Windows font file
• .fon – Generic font file
• .otf – Open type font file
• .ttf – TrueType font file

8: File extensions of image file formats

Image files extensions of files in Windows computer means when open it you see an image or gif usually. Here, the list of image files extensions.

• .ai – Adobe Illustrator file
• .bmp – Bitmap image
• .gif – GIF image
• .psd – PSD image
• .svg – Scalable Vector Graphics file
• .tif or .tiff – TIFF image
• .ico – Icon file
• .jpeg or .jpg – JPEG image
• .png – PNG image
• .ps – PostScript file

9: Internet relating files extensions

There are numerous files that is used on internet, web browsers and servers. Here, the list of files extensions for web servers and browsers.

• .css – Cascading Style Sheet file
• .htm and .html – HTML file
• .js – JavaScript file
• .jsp – Java Server Page file
• .part – Partially downloaded file
• .asp and .aspx – Active Server Page file
• .cer – Internet security certificate
• .cfm – ColdFusion Markup file
• .cgi or .pl – Perl script file
• .php – PHP file
• .py – Python file
• .rss – RSS file
• .xhtml – XHTML file

10: Presentation files formats by file extensions

Some programs allow you to create presentation and those files are stored with specific file extensions. Here, check the list of presentation file extensions.

• .pps – PowerPoint slide show
• .ppt – PowerPoint presentation
• .key – Keynote presentation
• .odp – OpenOffice Impress presentation file
• .pptx – PowerPoint Open XML presentation

11: Programming files by file extensions

Some files are of programming file types used for programming purposes. Here, the list of programming files by file extensions.

• .c – C and C++ source code file
• .cgi and .pl – Perl script file.
• .class – Java class file
• .cpp – C++ source code file
• .cs – Visual C# source code file
• .h – C, C++, and Objective-C header file
• .java – Java Source code file
• .php – PHP script file.
• .py – Python script file.
• .sh – Bash shell script
• .swift – Swift source code file
• .vb – Visual Basic file

12: File Extensions of spreadsheet file formats

The mostly used spreadsheet file extensions are xlx or xlsx but there are some other files extensions of spreadsheet types.

• .ods – OpenOffice Calc spreadsheet file
• .xls – Microsoft Excel file
• .xlsm – Microsoft Excel file with macros
• .xlsx – Microsoft Excel Open XML spreadsheet file

13: Files extensions relating to System relating files

System files or operating system files are used by operating system itself for their different functions and operations in computer. Here, check the list of system files extensions.

• .tmp – Temporary file
• .cpl – Windows Control panel file
• .cur – Windows cursor file
• .bak – Backup file
• .cab – Windows Cabinet file
• .cfg – Configuration file
• .ini – Initialization file
• .lnk – Windows shortcut file
• .msi – Windows installer package
• .sys – Windows system file
• .dll – DLL file
• .dmp – Dump file
• .drv – Device driver file
• .icns – macOS X icon resource file
• .ico – Icon file

14: Video file formats by file extensions

This list helps you to understand the files extensions of video files types.

• .m4v – Apple MP4 video file
• .mkv – Matroska Multimedia Container
• .mov – Apple QuickTime movie file
• .mp4 – MPEG4 video file
• .3g2 – 3GPP2 multimedia file
• .3gp – 3GPP multimedia file
• .avi – AVI file
• .flv – Adobe Flash file
• .h264 – H.264 video file
• .mpg or .mpeg – MPEG video file
• .rm – RealMedia file
• .swf – Shockwave flash file
• .vob – DVD Video Object
• .wmv – Windows Media Video file

15: Files extensions of word processor and text files

Some files are of text files and word processor types. Here, check the list of word processor type and text files types by file extensions.

• .doc and .docx – Microsoft Word file
• .odt – OpenOffice Writer document file
• .pdf – PDF file
• .rtf – Rich Text Format
• .tex – A LaTeX document file
• .txt – Plain text file
• .wpd – WordPerfect document

Conclusion

I hope this post helped you on List of File Extensions in Windows and helps you to understand what the file types and file extensions you are having, so that you can categorised the files in different folders according to file extensions in order to separate files of same file types. That’s all. For any suggestions or queries, please write on comment box below.