Data file
What is a .exe file?
An .exe is a Windows program. Double-clicking it runs software on your computer, which is exactly why you should be careful about where it came from.
Scan any .exe from email or a download site before running it. If Windows SmartScreen warns you, take the warning seriously.
This extension has been used by more than one format
5 different formats have claimed .exe over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .exe file
- WindowsDouble-click to run
- Windows7-Zip, to inspect the contents without running it
- MacNot natively — you'd need Wine, CrossOver or a Windows virtual machine
- LinuxWine
How to convert a .exe file
- If you can view the data, exporting to .csv is usually the most portable option.
MIME type
When a .exe file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executableThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .exe.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS-DOS Executable | — | — | x-fmt/409 |
| Windows New Executable | — | — | x-fmt/410 |
| Windows Portable Executable | — | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable | x-fmt/411 |
| Windows Portable Executable | 32 bit | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable | fmt/899 |
| Windows Portable Executable | 64 bit | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable | fmt/900 |