Opening TXT Files

The TXT file type is primarily associated with Notepad.

TXT	File extension: TXT
	File type:	text document

What is a TXT file?

TXT files mostly belong to Notepad by Microsoft. A TXT file is a text document created by various programs on computers and mobile devices. It is the default format for storing a piece of text written with text editors like Notepad and gedit. The contents of a TXT file are usually saved as plain text but it may also contain markup written in XML or as structured objects written in JSON syntax. Various applications save their event/error logs in TXT documents. Network traffic monitors such as WireShark save a network traffic log in a TXT file. Malicious individuals sometimes disguise Windows malware as TXT files.

How can I open a TXT file?

You need a suitable software like Notepad to open a TXT 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 TXT file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a TXT file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online TXT File Viewer

Choose your .txt file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to convert a TXT file to JPG, PDF, HTML, DOC, ...

You can convert TXT files using our online TXT file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do so, click the "Choose your .txt file to view" button above.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then click the file format (e.g. PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Your file will be converted and downloaded.

Programs that open and convert TXT files:

Notepad by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. TXT files are often referred to as Notepad simple text files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
7-zip (compressed data) by Igor Pavlov
7-Zip is a cross-platform data compression program with Gzip and ZIP support. It can decompress and/or unpack a TXT file saved as a ZIP or GZip archive. This file format is classified as Compressed.
Acrobat (document) by Adobe
Acrobat is a cross-platform application for authoring and reading documents in Portable Document Format (PDF). It can read a PDF document that has TXT filename extension. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Defender (potential malware) by Microsoft
Defender is a system security software suite for Windows operating system. Its antivirus feature can detect and remove a Windows executable potentially containing a malware disguised as a TXT file. This file format is classified as Executable.
DisplayWrite (text document) by IBM
DisplayWrite is a discontinued word processing application for classic MS-DOS, VM/CMS, and OS/400 operating systems. It saved a text document in a TXT file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
EasyPlot (text data) by Spiral Software
EasyPlot is a discontinued scientific graphing and data analysis software for older versions of Windows operating system. It saves text data in a TXT file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
IQ (message tags) by Intranet Quorum
IQ is a system maintenance, security, and communication software for Windows operating system. It uses an IQFormatFile.txt attachment to save the tags in a message. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: Using Extended Workflow
Linux (executable/malware) by The Linux Foundation
Linux is an open source kernel and operating system for desktop, server, and IoT platforms. It can run a TXT file saved in Executable and Linkable Format. This file format is classified as Executable.
Ren'Py (novel data/script) by Ren'Py Team
Ren'Py is a cross-platform, Python-based visual novel authoring/scripting and reading engine. Visual novels created with Ren'Py use data such as patches saved in TXT files. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
SQLite (database) by SQLite Consortium
SQLite is a cross-platform relational database management system available as a C language library. It can open a TXT file saved in SQLITE format. This file format is classified as Database.
Sublime (text document) by Sublime
Sublime is a cross-platform source code and text editor. It can be used to write and edit text saved in TXT files. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: EditPad Pro, Jarte Word Processor
WireShark (network traffic log) by Gerald Combs
WireShark is a network protocol analysis and traffic capture program. It can use a TXT file to store a network log. This file format is classified as Simple text file. Related links: Wikipedia Wireshark Page
XnView (image) by XnSoft
XnView is a cross-platform image viewer and organizer compatible with desktop and mobile operating systems. It can display a JPEG, PNG, or GIF image which has TXT filename extension. This file format is classified as Raster Image.

TXT file extension format:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open the file. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Below is our analysis of the TXT files:

TXT is a very commonly used file extension and uses a uniform format that many programs support. However, the following two file formats are common:

55% of all TXT files belong to text. The contents of these files can even be read by a human. TXT files are between 59 bytes and 1 MB in size. The file type was developed 10 years ago and is still in use today. Such files sometimes refer to text, data, document, license, code, info, chat and sample.
3% of all TXT files are UTF-8 text files, which are based on the UTF-8 file format. UTF-8 is the World Wide Web's most common character encoding for Unicode. UTF-8 files can be viewed with any text editor. These files start with the 3 bytes ï»¿ (hex: EF BB BF), the so called byte order mark (BOM). The contents of these files can even be read by a human. Most of these files are 210 bytes to 3 MB in size. These files are attributed to windows, output, crack, apps, traceback, config and tools.

All other TXT files (42%) have different formats. Files like these are sometimes linked to list, read, message, backup, memo or dumpstate. Just click the "Choose your .txt file to view" button on this page to find out what your TXT file is.

Technical Data for TXT File Extension

File classification:

Simple text file

Related files:

check, edi, zip, anon, csi, pdf, json, x12, exe, jpg, lic, xml, html, png, file, zlib, csv, gif89a, notepad, hat, cfg, nfo

Mime type:

text/plain, image/ascii-art, text/vnd.ascii-art

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: CorelDRAW.Graphic.11, FileType: CorelDRAW 11.0 Graphic, AppName: CorelDRAW(R)
EXEFile: coreldrw.exe

ProgramID: EasyWord.Document

ProgramID: txt_auto_file, FileType: Text Document, AppName: NOTEPAD

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: EditPad Pro

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: Notepad
EXEFile: NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: Wincode: Multi-Purpose Encoder/Decoder for Windows

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: Windows Notepad
EXEFile: NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile, FileType: Text Document, AppName: WordPad

ProgramID: UltraEdit.txt, FileType: Text Document, AppName: UltraEdit-32 Professional Text/Hex Editor
EXEFile: uedit32.exe

ProgramID: ConTEXT
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ConTEXT\ConTEXT.exe %1

ProgramID: GetDiz.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\GetDiz\GetDiz.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bred2r\Bred2r.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EDITOREN\WordPadWinXP\wordpad.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadPro5\EditPadPro.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\dllcache\notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: Notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: UltraEdit.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\UltraEdit\uedit32.exe %1

ProgramID: Word.Document
EXEFile: notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: CopyWriter TXT-File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CopyWriter\CopyWriter.exe %1

ProgramID: pnptxtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\A Tech Group\Professional Notepad\notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: NoteTab.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NoteTab Pro\NotePro.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ULTRAEDT\UEDIT32.EXE %1

ProgramID: Nfodiz.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NfoDiz\Nfodiz.exe %1

ProgramID: UltraEdit.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IDM Computer Solutions\UltraEdit-32\uedit32.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Edit Pad Lite\EditPad.exe %1

ProgramID: TXTfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Dan's LCARS Editor System\LCARSEdi.exe %1

ProgramID: GetDiz.Document
EXEFile: notepad.exe %1

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Bred3\Bred3_2k.exe %1

ProgramID: EasyPad.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EasyOffice\EASYPAD.EXE %1

ProgramID: Notepad++_file
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\notepad++.exe %1

ProgramID: TextPad.txt
EXEFile: notepad.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\system32\NOTEPAD2.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadPro6\EditPadPro.exe

ProgramID: PFE32
EXEFile: notepad.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadLite\EditPad.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\BOXERT~1\B.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\JGsoft\EditPadLite\EditPadLite.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EditPadPro\EditPadPro.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Scintilla Text Editor\SciTE.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Boxer Text Editor\b.exe

ProgramID: hidemaru.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Hidemaru\Hidemaru.exe

ProgramID: TextFile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: NoteTab.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NoteTab Pro\NotePro.exe

ProgramID: emeditor.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EmEditor3\EMEDITOR.EXE

ProgramID: EasyPad.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles% PER UFFICIO\EASYPAD.EXE

ProgramID: NoteTab.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\NoteTab Std 5\NoteTab.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CNotePad.exe

ProgramID: emeditor.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\_PCUtils\Apps\EmEditor\emeditor.exe

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\SysWow64\NOTEPAD.EXE

ProgramID: txtfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\bred2r\bred2r\Bred2r.exe

ProgramID: hexovikfile
EXEFile: blank

ProgramID: UltraEdit.txt
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IDM Computer Solutions\UltraEdit\Uedit32.exe

Show all 54 listings To Top

a txt text document is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with TXT files

Associate the TXT file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open text documents. Because only the current version supports the latest TXT file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Notepad update.
To make sure that your TXT file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .TXT file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.