since 2000
Opening an LNK File
The LNK file type is primarily associated with Windows.
What is an LNK file?
LNK files mostly belong to Windows by Microsoft. An LNK file is the shortcut to a file or folder on Windows operating system. It acts like a hyperlink which opens the actual folder or file (usually an executable) when double-clicked. A single LNK file contains information such as the name and path of the actual file/folder. A shortcut has the same file icon and full name of the actual file with " - Shortcut" added to the end. Another type of LNK file is a playlist created by KMPlayer. LNK is also the filename extension of a linker script for a C or C++ program compiled with GCC.
How can I open an LNK file?
You need a suitable software like Windows to open an LNK 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 LNK file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a LNK file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.
Online LNK Text Viewer
or drag and drop it here
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Programs that open and convert LNK files:
- Windows by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. LNK files are often referred to as Windows systems because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
- Advanced Revelation (database) by RevelationAdvanced Revelation is a discontinued integrated application development environment for DOS. It saves a database in an LNK file. This file format is classified as Database. Related links: Sprezzatura Group Technical Support
- GCC (linker script) by GNU ProjectGCC (short for GNU Compiler Collection) is a C, C++, Ada, Go, and Objective-C compiler software suite. It saves a linker script in an LNK file. This file format is classified as Developer.
- XNBC (link configuration) by XNBC V8XNBC is a discontinued neural network simulation workstation used by neurobiologists. Its link configuration is saved in an LNK file. It contains all the parameters of the network architecture: number of nuclei (or clusters) and the links between/inside them. This file format is classified as Settings.
LNK file format:
Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. If the file extension does not match the file format, double-clicking on the file will cause an error upon opening. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Below is our analysis of the LNK files:
LNK is a very commonly used file extension and mainly uses a defined LNK format. But the following two file formats are common:
- 95% of all LNK files are Windows Shortcut files, which are using the popular LNK file format. LNK is short for link. An LNK file is a Windows shortcut that points to your original file or folder. Windows shortcut files can be used to deliver malware, so analyze unknown files here before double-clicking them. These files are binary files, so they do not contain text, but only cryptic characters. The average file size is 1 KB with most files being between 550 bytes and 2 KB in size. The file type was created 10 years ago, but is still used today. Files like these are sometimes connected to shortcut, microsoft, drive, pass, chrome, google, downloads and docx.
- 1% of all LNK files are using the well-known XML file format to store the data. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a simple text-based format for representing structured information: documents, webpages, data, configuration, books, transactions, invoices, and much more. XML defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. The content consists of readable text data, which can be read using a text editor. The file size is in the range of 1 KB to 1.9 KB. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">, <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>, <dict>, <key>LinkProxyList</key> and <plist version="1.0">. Examples of file names are Microsoft Edge.lnk. Files like these are about edge.
All the rest of the LNK files (4%) have different formats, the following 6 formats exist: EXE, PDF and ZIP. Files like these are sometimes linked to desktop, raccourci, directo, acceso, hindi, removable or windows. Just click the "Choose your .lnk file to analyze" button on this page to find out what your LNK file is.
Technical Data for LNK File Extension
File classification:
System
Related files:
Related links:
Mime type:
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: lnkfile, FileType: Shortcut
an lnk file/folder shortcut is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.
How to solve problems with LNK files
- Associate the LNK file extension with the correct application.
- Update your software that should actually open file/folder shortcuts. Because only the current version supports the latest LNK file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Windows update.
- To make sure that your LNK file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
- Click here to open your .LNK file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.