Other
What is a .url file?
A .url file is a Microsoft Internet Shortcut. This one is a specialist format without an obvious everyday home.
How to open a .url 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 Microsoft Internet Shortcut, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .url file
- Identify the file first, then look for an export or Save As option in whatever program can read it.
MIME type
When a .url file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
text/plainThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .url.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Internet Shortcut | — | text/plain | x-fmt/454 |