Image
What is a .tmp file?
A .tmp file is a temporary working file that a program created and was supposed to delete. Most of the time it's leftover junk and safe to remove — occasionally it's an unsaved document you'd very much like back.
How to open a .tmp file
- WindowsNotepad, to see if it's readable text
- WindowsWord — it can often recover ~WRD*.tmp files
- MacTextEdit for a quick look
How to convert a .tmp file
- If it looks like a Word document, copy it and rename the copy to .docx.
- Otherwise, Disk Cleanup (Windows) or Storage Management (macOS) will clear old .tmp files safely.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .tmp.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEC Thermo Tracer Image File | TH5100 | — | fmt/1963 |