---
title: ".txt file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .txt file is a Plain Text File. Text with no formatting at all — the format that will still open in fifty years. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/txt/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .txt files

**.txt file: Plain Text File**

Text with no formatting at all — the format that will still open in fifty years.

## What opens a .txt file

- **Windows:** Notepad (built in), Visual Studio Code, Notepad++
- **macOS:** TextEdit (built in), Visual Studio Code, BBEdit
- **Linux:** Text Editor / gedit (built in), Visual Studio Code, nano
- **In a browser:** Any web browser

## What a .txt file is

A .txt file is just characters, with no fonts, colours or layout, which is exactly why it is the most durable format there is. The only real complication is encoding: a file saved in a legacy code page shows odd symbols where accented letters should be, and UTF-8 is the answer. Line endings differ between Windows and Unix, which is why old Notepad used to show a document as one long line.

## Converting it

A .txt file is commonly converted to .pdf, .docx, .csv, .md or .html. It is a plain text format, so any text editor can open and edit it directly.

## Details

- **Extension:** .txt
- **Full name:** Plain Text File
- **Category:** Documents
- **MIME type:** text/plain
- **Created by:** Universal
- **Format:** Plain text

## Common questions

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

On Windows use Notepad (built in); on macOS use TextEdit (built in); on Linux use Text Editor / gedit (built in). Text with no formatting at all — the format that will still open in fifty years.

### What is a .txt file?

Plain Text File. A .txt file is just characters, with no fonts, colours or layout, which is exactly why it is the most durable format there is. The only real complication is encoding: a file saved in a legacy code page shows odd symbols where accented letters should be, and UTF-8 is the answer.

### Can I convert a .txt file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .pdf, .docx, .csv, .md or .html, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.pdf — Portable Document Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/pdf/)
- [.docx — Word Document (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/docx/)
- [.xlsx — Excel Workbook (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xlsx/)
- [.pptx — PowerPoint Presentation (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/pptx/)
- [.doc — Word Document (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/doc/)
- [.xls — Excel Workbook (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xls/)
- [.ppt — PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/ppt/)
- [.md — Markdown Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/md/)
- [.rtf — Rich Text Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/rtf/)
- [.pages — Apple Pages Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/pages/)
- [.odt — OpenDocument Text](https://atoneplace.net/file/odt/)
- [.eml — Email Message](https://atoneplace.net/file/eml/)

## Sources

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