.TEXT File Extension
Plain Text File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.6 | 135 Votes |
| Category | Text Files |
| Format | Text |
What is a TEXT file?
A TEXT file is a simple text document that contains unformatted ASCII text. It can be opened and edited in any text editor or word processor. TEXT files are more commonly saved as .TXT files.
TEXT files store text that can be viewed and edited in Microsoft Notepad, Apple TextEdit, and other text editors. Unlike .RTF, .DOCX, and .PAGES files, TEXT files cannot include advanced formatting, such as bolding, italicization, font styles, and text alignment.
Because TEXT files cannot include formatting, they typically contain only basic information, such as notes, step-by-step instructions, and program information logs. Software developers may also package TEXT files with games and tools they distribute to contain instructions or other information about the software.
Users who need to create more complicated text documents, such as resumes, reports, letters, or flyers, typically do not save those documents as TEXT files. Instead, they use Microsoft Word or Apple Pages to create and save documents as DOCX or PAGES files.
How to open a TEXT file
You can open a TEXT file in any text editor and most popular web browsers. Below, you'll find platform-specific instructions for opening TEXT files.
How do I open a TEXT file in Windows?
In Windows, you can open a TEXT file in Microsoft Notepad or Microsoft WordPad, both of which come included with Windows. To open a TEXT file in Notepad:
- From the Windows Start menu, select .
- After Notepad opens, select .
- Navigate to and open your TEXT file.
How do I open a TEXT file on a Mac?
In macOS, you can open a TEXT file in Apple TextEdit, which comes included with the operating system. To open a TEXT file in TextEdit:
- From the Finder or Launchpad, open TextEdit.
- In the file browser window that appears, navigate to and open your TEXT file.
How do I open a TEXT file in Chrome OS?
On Chromebooks, you can open a TEXT file in Google Chrome Text, which comes included with Chrome OS. To open a TEXT file in Google Chrome Text:
- Open the Chrome OS Launcher. Then, open Google Chrome Text.
- Select Google Chrome Text's button.
- Navigate to and open your TEXT file.
How do I open a TEXT file in my web browser?
The Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge web browsers all allow users to open TEXT files. Keep in mind, however, that you will not be able to edit your TEXT file in a web browser.
In Chrome and Firefox, you can simply drag and drop your file into a browser window to open it. In Microsoft Edge, you must copy and paste your file's location into Edge's address bar to open the file.
Programs that open TEXT files
Windows EXE Binary Machine Code File
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
4.0 | 4 Votes |
| Category | Misc Files |
| Format | Binary |
A .text file is a binary machine code file included in a Windows executable (.EXE) file. Unlike plain text TEXT files, binary TEXT files contain processor-specific machine instructions referenced by the executable file when run.
Since binary TEXT files are packaged in EXE files, you will likely only encounter them if you extract the contents of an EXE file with an archive utility (e.g., 7-Zip). Not all EXE files also include a TEXT file for storing machine code (you will typically find them in portable executables).
If you do extract the files packaged in a portable executable, you may encounter these files:
- .text - stores binary machine code for running the portable executable
- .reloc - stores information for how the portable executable is loaded and run in memory (.RELOC)
- .rsrc - stores information about resources used by the portable executable
Common TEXT Filenames
.text - Binary TEXT files are unnamed; only the .text file extension is present.
How to open a TEXT file
Binary TEXT files are not meant to be opened. Instead, the Windows portable executable (.EXE) file references them when run.