System file
What is a .inf file?
A .inf file is a Windows Setup File. This is a system or support file. Your computer uses it in the background — it isn't a document. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 3 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
3 different formats have claimed .inf over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .inf file
- Usually nothing. These files are read by the operating system or an application, not by you.
- If it's plain text (settings, logs), a text editor will show its contents safely.
The registry records this extension against Windows Setup File, Information or Setup File, Autorun Configuration File, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .inf file
- System files shouldn't be converted. If a program is complaining about one, reinstalling that program is the usual fix.
MIME type
When a .inf file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/infThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .inf.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Setup File | — | application/inf | x-fmt/420 |
| Information or Setup File | — | — | fmt/212 |
| Autorun Configuration File | — | — | fmt/331 |