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What is a .pyc file?
A .pyc file is a Python Compiled File (version 2.7). This one is a specialist format without an obvious everyday home. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 15 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
15 different formats have claimed .pyc over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.7 · fmt/939
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.4 · fmt/940
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.0 · fmt/1106
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.1 · fmt/1107
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.2 · fmt/1108
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.3 · fmt/1109
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.4 · fmt/1110
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.5 · fmt/1111
- Python Compiled FileVersion 2.6 · fmt/1112
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.0 · fmt/1113
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.1 · fmt/1114
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.2 · fmt/1115
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.3 · fmt/1116
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.5 · fmt/1117
- Python Compiled FileVersion 3.6 · fmt/1118
How to open a .pyc 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 Python Compiled File, Python Compiled File, Python Compiled File and others, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .pyc file
- Identify the file first, then look for an export or Save As option in whatever program can read it.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .pyc.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python Compiled File | 2.7 | — | fmt/939 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.4 | — | fmt/940 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.0 | — | fmt/1106 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.1 | — | fmt/1107 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.2 | — | fmt/1108 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.3 | — | fmt/1109 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.4 | — | fmt/1110 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.5 | — | fmt/1111 |
| Python Compiled File | 2.6 | — | fmt/1112 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.0 | — | fmt/1113 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.1 | — | fmt/1114 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.2 | — | fmt/1115 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.3 | — | fmt/1116 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.5 | — | fmt/1117 |
| Python Compiled File | 3.6 | — | fmt/1118 |