.lnk files

Common questions

How do I open a .lnk file?

On Windows use Windows (built in — double-click follows the target); on macOS use Not usable — Windows shortcuts do not work on macOS; on Linux use Not usable — Windows shortcuts do not work on Linux. A pointer to a file or program somewhere else — it contains none of the content.

What is a .lnk file?

Windows Shortcut. LNK files are the shortcuts on your Windows desktop and Start menu; they store a path plus an icon and working directory. Copying one to a USB stick copies the pointer, not the file, which is the classic reason a shortcut "opens nothing" on another computer.

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.