---
title: ".mid file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .mid file is a MIDI Sequence. Not audio at all — a list of notes and instructions for a synthesiser to perform. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/mid/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .mid files

**.mid file: MIDI Sequence**

Not audio at all — a list of notes and instructions for a synthesiser to perform.

## What opens a .mid file

- **Windows:** Media Player (built in), MuseScore, VLC
- **macOS:** GarageBand, MuseScore, VLC (with a SoundFont)
- **Linux:** MuseScore, VLC (with a SoundFont), TiMidity++

## What a .mid file is

A MIDI file stores which note is played, when, how hard and on which instrument; it contains no recorded sound, which is why a three-minute song fits in a few kilobytes. How it sounds depends entirely on the synthesiser playing it, so the same file is tinny in one program and orchestral in another. Windows Media Player plays MIDI with the built-in wavetable; on macOS and Linux you generally need GarageBand, MuseScore or a player configured with a SoundFont.

## Converting it

A .mid file is commonly converted to .mp3, .wav, .musicxml or .pdf. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .mid
- **Full name:** MIDI Sequence
- **Category:** Audio
- **MIME type:** audio/midi
- **Created by:** MIDI Manufacturers Association
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .mid file?

On Windows use Media Player (built in); on macOS use GarageBand; on Linux use MuseScore. Not audio at all — a list of notes and instructions for a synthesiser to perform.

### What is a .mid file?

MIDI Sequence. A MIDI file stores which note is played, when, how hard and on which instrument; it contains no recorded sound, which is why a three-minute song fits in a few kilobytes. How it sounds depends entirely on the synthesiser playing it, so the same file is tinny in one program and orchestral in another.

### Can I convert a .mid file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .mp3, .wav, .musicxml or .pdf, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.mp3 — MPEG-1 Audio Layer III](https://atoneplace.net/file/mp3/)
- [.wav — Waveform Audio File](https://atoneplace.net/file/wav/)
- [.m4a — MPEG-4 Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4a/)
- [.flac — Free Lossless Audio Codec](https://atoneplace.net/file/flac/)
- [.aac — Advanced Audio Coding](https://atoneplace.net/file/aac/)
- [.ogg — Ogg Vorbis Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/ogg/)
- [.opus — Opus Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/opus/)
- [.m3u — Media Playlist](https://atoneplace.net/file/m3u/)
- [.wma — Windows Media Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/wma/)
- [.aiff — Audio Interchange File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/aiff/)
- [.m4b — MPEG-4 Audiobook](https://atoneplace.net/file/m4b/)
- [.amr — Adaptive Multi-Rate Audio](https://atoneplace.net/file/amr/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)