A file with an executable file extension means that the file format supports some ability to run an automatic task. This is in contrast to other file formats that just display data, play a sound or video, or otherwise present content without running a system command.

File Extensions Explained

If you open a file with one of these file extensions, your computer could, without your continued permission, run one or more operations programmed into that file.

To put it in even simpler terms, these files either belong to programs, scripts, or program extensions and plugins. They’re meant to run and do things on your computer, only you can’t be sure exactly what they’re running or doing. That’s why it’s always crucial to only run them when they come from a trusted source or website.

Those operations could be damaging if, for example, you were to run a virus-infected executable file that you received by email from someone you don’t know.

High-Risk File Extensions

We’ve rated the following executable file types as High Risk because essentially all computers with the listed operating system installed, execute the commands contained in the executable file.

Please exercise caution before opening these kinds of files, especially those received in suspicious emails or downloaded from unfamiliar websites. Use an online virus scanner on the specific file you’re concerned about if you’re not sure if it’s safe (remember, though, that not all dangerous files are necessarily malicious, so those scanners shouldn’t be your only line of defense).

In other words, files with the extensions listed below can be executed with some basic parts of Windows, macOS, Linux, etc. No additional program is required.

[1] To execute an INF file, you must open the pop-up menu (usually by right-clicking on the file) and choose Install.

Other Executable File Extensions

The following file extensions are only executable if you happen to have the software installed that carries out the commands contained in the file.

If you do have one of the programs below installed, consider files with the associated extensions as executable and High Risk. If you don’t have a particular program installed, and you try to execute a file with that extension, either a harmless error will appear or nothing at all will happen.

[1] “Original Scripting Engine” refers to whatever program created the script. It would be impossible to list, and keep updated, the number of scripting engines that might use these file extensions.

This is not a complete list of executable file extensions, nor is it a list of dangerous but non-executable file types. 

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