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What is a .cab file?
A .cab file is a Windows Cabinet File. This one is a specialist format without an obvious everyday home.
How to open a .cab file
- The program that created it is by far the most reliable way to open it.
- On Windows, use a hex viewer or the free TrID tool to identify what the file really is.
- On Mac or Linux, running `file yourfile` in the terminal identifies most formats instantly.
The registry records this extension against Windows Cabinet File, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .cab file
- Identify the file first, then look for an export or Save As option in whatever program can read it.
MIME type
When a .cab file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/vnd.ms-cab-compressedThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .cab.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Cabinet File | — | application/vnd.ms-cab-compressed | x-fmt/414 |