.ini files

Common questions

How do I open a .ini file?

On Windows use Notepad (built in); on macOS use TextEdit (built in); on Linux use Text Editor (built in). A simple text config format of [sections] and key=value lines.

What is a .ini file?

Initialisation / Configuration File. INI files date from early Windows and remain a common way for programs to store settings, with sections in square brackets and plain key=value pairs beneath. They are plain text, so Notepad or any editor opens one.

Can I convert a .ini file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .toml, .json or .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

Related pages

• .csv — Comma-Separated Values A spreadsheet as plain text, one row per line — the universal data exchange form
• .json — JavaScript Object Notation The standard text format for structured data on the web and in config files.
• .xml — Extensible Markup Language A tag-based text format for structured data, still everywhere in enterprise syst
• .yaml — YAML Data File An indentation-based configuration format, readable but unforgiving about whites
• .log — Log File A plain-text record of what a program did, newest events usually at the bottom.
• .torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File A few kilobytes of metadata describing what to download and from whom — not the
• .dat — Generic Data File A meaningless extension — .dat says only that some program stored data here.
• .vcf — vCard Contact File One or more contacts as plain text — the standard way to move an address book.
• .sql — SQL Script A text file of database commands — often a full database dump.
• .ics — iCalendar Event A calendar invitation or event feed in a plain-text standard format.
• .sqlite — SQLite Database A complete relational database in a single file — the most deployed database in
• .db — Generic Database File An extension many programs use for their data — it does not identify one format.