.BIN File Extension

A BIN file is a file that stores data in a binary format. It is different than a text-based file, which can be edited in a text editor. BIN files may be created by a variety of different programs but typically cannot be manually edited.

Disk images are typically binary files, though they often use other file extensions. BIN files may also be used for firmware updaters.

A BIN file is an executable file used for running various programs. BIN files may contain both executable code and data required to start a program and may be created for Mac, Windows, or Unix platforms.

An example binary executable file is soffice.bin, the quick starter program for OpenOffice.org.

Program, or compiled binary file, that can be run on a Unix operating system, such as Linux or FreeBSD; may be run from the command line by typing "[filename].bin," where [filename] is the name of the executable file.

Game ROM of a Sega Genesis video game; stores the data from a Sega Genesis cartridge in a single data file; can be played on a PC using a Genesis emulation program.

Sega Genesis ROMs also use the .SMD file extension.

Compressed file that is encoded as binary or MacBinary; stores a finder header, data fork, and resource fork; ensures the Macintosh Hierarchical File System (HFS) resource fork and data fork are both kept in one file; commonly used to transfer Macintosh files over the Internet.

There are multiple MacBinary formats: MacBinary, MacBinary II, and MacBinary III. MacBinary files have largely been replaced by .DMG files.

Disc image created from an optical disc; stores the binary data copied from a CD or DVD; can be mounted by the computer and recognized as a physical disc; similar to the standard .ISO disc image format.

BIN files are often saved with other metadata files that describe the disc contents. For example, they are often saved with a .CUE file that describes the ordering of data in the binary image.

If a BIN file will not open, it may be opened by some disk utilities by changing the extension from ".bin" to ".iso."

Configuration file named policy.bin and used for making administrative updates to BlackBerry Desktop Software and the BlackBerry Wireless Handheld; often distributed by IT system adminstrators to company computers; may be stored on the desktop or other locations specified by the system administrator when distributing configuration updates.

The policy.bin file is created by IT Policy Manager, a program included with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Typically only company IT system adminstrators interact with this software to create and distribute the BIN files.

When the BlackBerry Desktop Software is opened, it searches for the policy.bin file to make any policy changes to the software and to connected BlackBerry devices. The location of the file is specified in the Windows registry with the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Research In Motion\BlackBerry\Policy Manager\Path. If this key doesn't exist, the C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry\ directory is searched instead.

Binary file used by the Nintendo DS series portable gaming systems; contains executable data for a Nintendo DS game; can be used to patch, or modify, emulated Nintendo games for DS emulators.

NOTE: BIN files are commonly found within .NDS files.

Video file saved as raw binary data from a DVD or other media; may be saved along with a .CUE file that describes what data is saved in the BIN file.

Since BIN video files may contain long streams of video, they may be several gigabytes in size.

BIOS file used by PCSX and other variants of PlayStation emulation software; saves an image of the PlayStation BIOS, which enables the emulator to replicate the game console's functionality; allows games to be run exactly as they are run on the console.

A valid BIN file is required for PCSX to emulate the PlayStation.

Atari 2600 ROM used by Atari emulators such as Stella and PCAEWin; contains an exact copy of the original game cartridge; used for playing Atari games on computers; commonly downloaded as a .ZIP file, which can be extracted to the BIN file.

Firmware file used by several different brands of routers, including some of those from Linksys, D-Link, and Belkin; contains low-level system data that runs the device; used for upgrading router firmware and often downloaded from router product support pages.

BIN files are usually installed using the router's user interface. For example, many Linksys routers have a browser-based program that includes an Administration tab with a "Firmware Upgrade" option that is used to load the BIN file. To get specific instructions for upgrading your router's firmware, consult the manufacturer's documentation.