Opening an HQX File

The HQX file type is primarily associated with StuffIt Expander.

HQXFile Extension HQX
 File extension: HQX
File type:  Encoded file

What is an HQX file?

HQX files mostly belong to StuffIt Expander. HQX files use the BinHex 4.0 format to convert Macintosh files with binary data into an ASCII text format. This process wraps the complete file structure, including resource forks and metadata, so the file can move safely through systems that support only plain text.
Key details compiled by FilExt.com include:
  • Encoding Method: BinHex 4.0 converts binary data into text with error checking.
  • Macintosh Specific: It preserves both the data and the resource fork typical of Mac files.
  • These files are mainly used when transferring files via email or over networks that block binary data.
  • Decoding is required to restore the original file; utilities like StuffIt Expander can handle this task.
    • FilExt.com note: If you encounter an HQX file on your PC, use a dedicated BinHex decoder to extract and view its content.

    How to open HQX files

    You need a suitable software like StuffIt Expander to open an HQX file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your HQX file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a HQX file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

    Online HQX Text Viewer

    Choose your .hqx file to view
    ✈

    Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

    Please allow ads on our site

    This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

    Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

    How to extract texts from HQX files or capture a screenshot to PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...

    You can extract texts from HQX file or capture a preview screenshot using our online HQX file viewer:
    1. To do so, click the "Choose your .hqx file to view" button above.
    2. Your HQX file will then be displayed in the browser.
    3. Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
    4. Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
    5. Download the converted file.

    Programs that open and convert HQX files:

    1. StuffIt Expander
      See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. HQX files are often referred to as StuffIt Expander encodeds because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
    2. Apple Macintosh (Archive and compressed file type) by Apple
      HQX file extensions are Macintosh BinHex (“binary-to-hexadecimal”) 4 Compressed Archive files which are employed in order to store binary format versions of documents, images, as well as multimedia files. BinHex format is used to store 8-bit binary data in the form of 7-bit text format. Even though the file size is larger, corruption is less likely to occur amongst the files which have been saved in this way. This led to preference of HQX files while transferring data over the email.
    3. Macintosh BinHex 4 Compressed Archive
      The BinHex format was created to satisfy two specific needs: To allow transferring binary files sent on the Internet and to bundle in a single container both forks composing a Macintosh file. The author, Yves Lempereur, also added a compression function, of the RLE type, to avoid sending repetitive sequences of identical characters. Typically lower case on *nix systems. The Mime types used with this association are: application/binhex, application/mac-binhex, application/mac-binhex40, application/octet-stream, application/x-gzip, application/x-stuffit, application/x-tar, application/x-winzip, application/x-zip-compresse. The identifying characters used for this association are - Hex: 28 54 68 69 73 20 66 69 6C 65 20 6D 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 63 6F 6E 76 65 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 42 69 6E 48 65 78 20, ASCII: (This file must be converted with BinHex .

    Technical Data for HQX File Extension

    File classification:
    Encoded
    Related files:
    mac, sit, sea, hdx, pcs, heic, ttf, bin, zip
    Mime type:
    application/binhex, application/mac-binhex, application/mac-binhex40

    The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

    ProgramID: StuffIt.Encoded.File.Expand, FileType: StuffIt Encoded File, AppName: StuffIt for Windows 8.0
    EXEFile: stuffit.exe
    ProgramID: StuffItEncoded, FileType: Aladdin Encoded File, AppName: Aladdin Expander
    ProgramID: WinZip, FileType: WinZip File, AppName: WinZip
    EXEFile: winzip32.exe
    ProgramID: WinZip, FileType: WinZip File, AppName: WinZip Executable
    EXEFile: winzip32.exe
    ProgramID: ZipMagic HQX
    ProgramID: StuffIt.Encoded.File.Expand
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt\\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell -override_open_tutorial
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SHAREW~1\WINZIP\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WINZIP\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: C:\DOCUME~1\ESTELA~1\MYDOCU~1\DEFAUL~1\WINZIP\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: C:\WINZIP\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: D:\EXTRA_~1\SMALLP~1\WINZIP9.0\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: G:\DOWNLO~1\WinZip\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: G:\SW\WINZIP\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: Y:\WINZIP\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: ZipZag.hqx
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ZipZag\zipzag.exe %1
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WINZIP~1.1FR\winzip32.exe %1
    ProgramID: StuffItEncoded
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.0\Expander\Expander.exe %1
    ProgramID: pkzipfile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe %1
    ProgramID: hfile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe /dde
    ProgramID: StuffIt.Encoded.File.Expand
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Allume Systems\StuffIt\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell -override_open_tutorial
    ProgramID: ALZip.hqx
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ESTsoft\ALZip\ALZip.exe %1
    ProgramID: VuePrint
    EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\vuepro32.exe %1
    ProgramID: StuffIt.Encoded.File.Expand
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt Standard\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell
    ProgramID: StuffIt.Encoded.File.Expand
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.5\stuffit.exe -expand %1 -from_shell
    ProgramID: ICEOWSDoc
    EXEFile: rundll32 %SystemRoot%\system32\ShellExt\IceGUI.dll,RouteTheCall
    ProgramID: WinZip
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WINZIP8\winzip32.exe
    ProgramID: StuffIt.Encoded.File.Expand
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smith Micro\StuffIt\stuffit.exe -expand -from_shell -override_open_tutorial
    ProgramID: pkarchive
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PKWARE\PKZIPW4\pkzipw.exe
    ProgramID: MimarSinan Codex
    EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L
    ProgramID: StuffItEncoded
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Aladdin Systems\StuffIt 7.0.2\Expander\Expander.exe
    ProgramID: pkzipfile
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\_WWWUT~1\Security\Mail\PKWARE\PKZIPW\PKZIPW.exe
    ProgramID: StuffIt11.Archive.Open.Generic
    EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Smith Micro\StuffIt11\StuffIt11.exe -o
    Show all 32 listingsTo Top

    an hqx Encoded file is a special file format and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

    How to solve problems with HQX files

    • Associate the HQX file extension with the correct application.
    • Update your software that should actually open encoded files. Because only the current version supports the latest HQX file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the manufacturer website after an available StuffIt Expander update.
    • To make sure that your HQX file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
    • Click here to open your .HQX file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.
    Drop here
    View another file
    HQX file viewer HQX file description