.DIZ File Extension

Description in Zip File

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What is a DIZ file?

A DIZ file is a plain text file that describes the program or files within a .ZIP archive in which it is also included. It is a small file since it only contains a brief description that typically consists of 10 lines of text or less with each line being less than 45 characters.

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Screenshot of a .diz file in Microsoft Notepad 21
DIZ file open in Microsoft Notepad 21

DIZ files were originally used for distributing files via BBS (bulletin board systems) with the FILE_ID.DIZ filename. The FILE_ID stands for "file identification" and DIZ stands for "Description in Zip file." The information contained in FILE_ID.DIZ files provided system administrators with helpful descriptions of each file that was uploaded to the system.

As the popularity of bulletin board systems declined over the years, FILE_ID.DIZ files became less common. However, DIZ files are still used by the Warez scene, which is a community of people that illegally distribute copyrighted content. These users typically package FILE_ID.DIZ files with their ZIP distributions of unlicensed software.

Common DIZ Filenames

FILE_ID.DIZ - Common filename for the DIZ text file that describes the content stored in a ZIP archive.

How to open a DIZ file

You can open DIZ files with any text editor. In Windows, you can use Microsoft Notepad or WordPad, which are bundled with the operating system. If you are a Mac user, you can use Apple TextEdit, which is bundled with macOS.

There are many other programs you can use to open DIZ files. Some options include Microsoft Word (multiplatform), Notepad++ (Windows), Apple Pages (macOS), and gedit (Linux).

NOTE: You may need to change the .diz file extension to .txt to open it with a text editor.

Open and view .DIZ files with File Viewer Plus.Free Download

Programs that open or reference DIZ files

Web
Mac
Included with OS
Included with OS
Free
Linux
Free
Free
Free
Updated September 15, 2021

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