List of Executable File Extensions

Files with these extensions might be able to execute a task automatically.

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.

Please exercise caution before opening any executable file, especially those received in suspicious emails or downloaded from unfamiliar websites.

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.

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.

Potentially Dangerous File Extensions
Extension	Format	Operating System(s)
ACTION	Automator Action	macOS
APK	Application	Android
APP	Executable	macOS
BAT	Batch File	Windows
BIN	Binary Executable	Windows, macOS, Linux
CMD	Command Script	Windows
COM	Command File	Windows
COMMAND	Terminal Command	macOS
CPL	Control Panel Extension	Windows
CSH	C Shell Script	macOS, Linux
EXE	Executable	Windows
GADGET	Windows Gadget	Windows
INF 1	Setup Information File	Windows
INS	Internet Communication Settings	Windows
INX	InstallShield Compiled Script	Windows
IPA	Application	iOS
ISU	InstallShield Uninstaller Script	Windows
JOB	Windows Task Scheduler Job File	Windows
JSE	JScript Encoded File	Windows
KSH	Unix Korn Shell Script	Linux
LNK	File Shortcut	Windows
MSC	Microsoft Common Console Document	Windows
MSI	Windows Installer Package	Windows
MSP	Windows Installer Patch	Windows
MST	Windows Installer Setup Transform File	Windows
OSX	Executable	macOS
OUT	Executable	Linux
PAF	Portable Application Installer File	Windows
PIF	Program Information File	Windows
PRG	Executable	GEM
PS1	Windows PowerShell Cmdlet	Windows
REG	Registry Data File	Windows
RGS	Registry Script	Windows
RUN	Executable	Linux
SCR	Screensaver Executable	Windows
SCT	Windows Scriptlet	Windows
SHB	Windows Document Shortcut	Windows
SHS	Shell Scrap Object	Windows
U3P	U3 Smart Application	Windows
VB	VBScript File	Windows
VBE	VBScript Encoded Script	Windows
VBS	VBScript File	Windows
VBSCRIPT	Visual Basic Script	Windows
WORKFLOW	Automator Workflow	macOS
WS	Windows Script	Windows
WSF	Windows Script	Windows
WSH	Windows Script Preference	Windows

_{[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.

High Risk File Extensions
Extension	Format	Program
0XE	Renamed Virus File	F-Secure Internet Security
73K	TI-73 Application	TI Connect
89K	TI-89 Application	TI Connect
A6P	Authorware 6 Program File	Adobe Authorware
AC	GNU Autoconf Script	Autoconf
ACC	GEM Accessory File	Gemulator
ACR	ACRobot Script	ACRobot
ACTM	AutoCAD Action Macro	AutoCAD
AHK	AutoHotkey Script	AutoHotkey
AIR	Adobe AIR Installation Package	Adobe AIR
APP	FoxPro Application	Visual FoxPro
ARSCRIPT	ArtRage Script	ArtRage Studio
AS	Adobe Flash ActionScript File	Adobe Flash
ASB	Alphacam Stone VB Macro	Alphacam
AWK	AWK Script	AWK
AZW2	Kindle Active Content App File	Kindle Collection Manager
BEAM	Compiled Erlang File	Erlang
BTM	4DOS Batch File	4DOS
CEL	Celestia Script	Celestia
CELX	Celestia Script	Celestia
CHM	Compiled HTML Help File	Firefox, IE, Safari
COF	MPLAB COFF File	MPLAB IDE
CRT	Security Certificate	Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari
DEK	Eavesdropper Batch File	Eavesdropper
DLD	EdLog Compiled Program	Edlog
DMC	Medical Manager Script	Sage Medical Manager
DOCM	Word Macro-Enabled Document	Microsoft Word
DOTM	Word Macro-Enabled Template	Microsoft Word
DXL	Rational DOORS Script	Rational DOORS
EAR	Java Enterprise Archive File	Apache Geronimo
EBM	EXTRA! Basic Macro	EXTRA!
EBS	E-Run 1.x Script	E-Prime (v1)
EBS2	E-Run 2.0 Script	E-Prime (v2)
ECF	SageCRM Component File	SageCRM
EHAM	ExtraHAM Executable	HAM Programmer Toolkit
ELF	Nintendo Wii Game File	Dolphin Emulator
ES	SageCRM Script	SageCRM
EX4	MetaTrader Program File	MetaTrader
EXOPC	ExoPC Application	EXOfactory
EZS	EZ-R Stats Batch Script	EZ-R Stats
FAS	Compiled Fast-Load AutoLISP File	AutoCAD
FKY	FoxPro Macro	Visual FoxPro
FPI	FPS Creator Intelligence Script	FPS Creator
FRS	Flash Renamer Script	Flash Renamer
FXP	FoxPro Compiled Program	Visual FoxPro
GS	Geosoft Script	Oasis Montaj
HAM	HAM Executable	Ham Runtime
HMS	HostMonitor Script	HostMonitor
HPF	HP9100A Program File	HP9100A Emulator
HTA	HTML Application	Internet Explorer
IIM	iMacro Macro	iMacros (Firefox Add-on)
IPF	SMS Installer Script	Microsoft SMS
ISP	Internet Communication Settings	Microsoft IIS
JAR	Java Archive	Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari
JS	JScript Executable Script	Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari
JSX	ExtendScript Script	Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit
KIX	KiXtart Script	KiXtart
LO	Interleaf Compiled Lisp File	QuickSilver
LS	LightWave LScript File	LightWave
MAM	Access Macro-Enabled Workbook	Microsoft Access
MCR	3ds Max Macroscript or Tecplot Macro	3ds Max
MEL	Maya Embedded Language File	Maya 2013
MPX	FoxPro Compiled Menu Program	Visual FoxPro
MRC	mIRC Script	mIRC
MS	3ds Max Script	3ds Max
MS	Maxwell Script	Maxwell Render
MXE	Macro Express Playable Macro	Macro Express
NEXE	Chrome Native Client Executable	Chrome
OBS	ObjectScript Script	ObjectScript
ORE	Ore Executable	Ore Runtime Environment
OTM	Outlook Macro	Microsoft Outlook
PEX	ProBoard Executable	ProBoard BBS
PLX	Perl Executable	ActivePerl or Microsoft IIS
POTM	PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Design Template	Microsoft PowerPoint
PPAM	PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Add-in	Microsoft PowerPoint
PPSM	PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Slide Show	Microsoft PowerPoint
PPTM	PowerPoint Macro-Enabled Presentation	Microsoft PowerPoint
PRC	Palm Resource Code File	Palm Desktop
PVD	Instalit Script	Instalit
PWC	PictureTaker File	PictureTaker
PYC	Python Compiled File	Python
PYO	Python Optimized Code	Python
QPX	FoxPro Compiled Query Program	Visual FoxPro
RBX	Rembo-C Compiled Script	Rembo Toolkit
ROX	Actuate Report Object Executable	eReport
RPJ	Real Pac Batch Job File	Real Pac
S2A	SEAL2 Application	SEAL
SBS	SPSS Script	SPSS
SCA	Scala Script	Scala Designer
SCAR	SCAR Script	SCAR
SCB	Scala Published Script	Scala Designer
SCRIPT	Generic Script	Original Scripting Engine 1
SMM	Ami Pro Macro	Ami Pro
SPR	FoxPro Generated Screen File	Visual FoxPro
TCP	Tally Compiled Program	Tally Developer
THM	Thermwood Macro	Mastercam
TLB	OLE Type Library	Microsoft Excel
TMS	Telemate Script	Telemate
UDF	Excel User Defined Function	Microsoft Excel
UPX	Ultimate Packer for eXecutables File	Ultimate Packer for eXecutables
URL	Internet Shortcut	Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari
VLX	Compiled AutoLISP File	AutoCAD
VPM	Vox Proxy Macro	Vox Proxy
WCM	WordPerfect Macro	WordPerfect
WIDGET	Yahoo! Widget	Yahoo! Widgets
WIZ	Microsoft Wizard File	Microsoft Word
WPK	WordPerfect Macro	WordPerfect
WPM	WordPerfect Macro	WordPerfect
XAP	Silverlight Application Package	Microsoft Silverlight
XBAP	XAML Browser Application	Firefox, IE
XLAM	Excel Macro-Enabled Add-In	Microsoft Excel
XLM	Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook	Microsoft Excel
XLSM	Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook	Microsoft Excel
XLTM	Excel Macro-Enabled Template	Microsoft Excel
XQT	SuperCalc Macro	CA SuperCalc
XYS	XYplorer Script	XYplorer
ZL9	Renamed Virus File	ZoneAlarm

_{[1] By «Original Scripting Engine» I mean 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.