Open an executable file in PE Explorer PE Explorer contains a number of methods for opening files. To open a file for browsing or editing, click the toolbar button or select File Open CTRL+O. The dropdown menu next to the toolbutton gives you quick access to recently open files. Dec 21, 2020 It's possible to safely open and run EXE files on your Mac using mediums like Boot Camp, Remote Desktop, CrossOver, Virtual Machine, and WINE, to mention the most prominent ones. And you don't need to be an expert to do this. Can't open a.exe file? When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message.

Filename extensions provide information on what type of file they enclose. The extension .exe stands for “executable” and is an extension designed for Windows-based systems. Most programs on a Windows computer are launched with a double-click on the corresponding .exe file or shortcut. In addition, programs are also installed from .exe files before they are run on the computer.

We show you how you can open .exe files on your Windows PC or Mac.

How to open an .exe file on Windows

By double-clicking on the file, the .exe document will open. Alternatively, you can right-click on the file to open a drop-down menu and select “Open”. On many operating systems, a warning may appear when you do this. If you have downloaded a file from the internet, you should double-check that it comes from a secure and serioussource. Above all, you should never open an .exe file that you received as an email attachment, even if you know the sender.

On Windows computers you can hide or view filename extensions in the file options.

If problems emerge when opening the .exe, this may indicate a corrupted file. Alternatively the file may have been developed for an obsolete version of Windows. Check the compatibility of the .exe with your operating system before opening it.

If you can rule out both these errors, the problem may be that Windows no longer knows what to do with the filename extension. In this case, you will need to link the format to the file type again. There are several ways to do this.

Via the command line:

1. Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time to open the run dialogue.
2. Enter cmd or command in the input field in order to open the command-line interface.
3. Enter the following command: assoc .exe=exefile

Via the registry:

1. Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time in order to launch the run dialogue.
2. Enter the command regedit to open the Registry Editor.
3. Open the key named HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.exe. A double-click on the Default key in the right part of the window will open a dialog window. In the Value data field,type exefile and confirm with OK.
4. Open the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefileshellopencommand folder. In the right area of the window, change the value of the Default key so that it reads as follows: '%1' %*
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart your system. You should now be able to open.exe files as usual.

How to open an .exe on Mac

On the macOS operating system or Android devices, .exe files are not easy to open because they are application files specified for Windows systems. It is virtually impossible to open this type of file using Android, because the system is designed to only install programs from the Google Play Store.

With macOS, however, there are a number of different workarounds which allow you to open.exe files:

• Emulators: Software such as CrossOver for macOS can run Windows files. The program lets you select the desired .exe file and install it on your Mac to run the program.
• Virtualization: Another option consists of running Windows on Mac on a virtual machine. The operating system then behaves like it would after a standard installation on a PC.
• Boot Camp: You can run Windows alongside macOS using Boot Camp utility.

File extension fixer is a free tool intended to fix executable file associations and run programs even when those extensions are damaged.

It also includes several fixes to common issues caused by modern malware to windows registry.

Version .com available to be used if the .exe file association has been corrupted.

Supported file extensions are: EXE, MSI, REG, BAT, CMD, COM and VBS.

Please download the desired version below:

Current version: 2.2.1.0

By downloading and using this program, you declare to have read and agree with the End User License Agreement for our software.

File extension fixer is free software, currently only supported by donations.

If you like this program and want to support its future development, you can donate by clicking the button below. Thanks in advance. Any amount is appreciated.

Help content index:

Run a program or open a file:

Once you have successfully launched File extension fixer, you will be able to run executable files even before repairing the file associations.

Just enter the command you want to run in the text input box, or press the Browse button to locate the file using the Windows Shell.

The input box also supports Drag and Drop. Just drag the file you want to open/run to the text box, and its full path will be automatically inserted.

When ready, press the Run/Open button to open your file.

This feature can also be used to access internet locations, or download files. Just enter or paste the url you want to open to the text box and pres Enter or the Run/Open button.

For instance, to open this page, enter http://www.carifred.com/exefixer/ in the text box and hit Enter.

To download UVK, enter http://www.carifred.com/uvk/UVKSetup.exe in the text box and hit Enter.

Open Executable Jar File Online

Repair file associations:

To repair corrupted file associations, select the extension you wish to repair in the combo box. Supported extensions are: EXE, MSI, REG, BAT, CMD, COM and VBS. If you want to repair all seven file extensions, select All.

When ready, press the Fix selected button. You will get a message box telling the result of the operation, and how many registry entries were fixed:

System repair:

Sometimes malware use the group policy to disable some system tools that could help you to remove the infection. The tools that are usually disabled are the registry editor, the task manager, the system restore, the System configuration utility (msconfig) and the command prompt.

Using the options in the lower pane, you can easily enable and run tose tools:

Press the text link corresponding to the tool you want to enable and run. For instance, you may want to enable and run the system restore, and restore your system to a state before the infection.

The last two options allow you to download and run two well known tools that will help you to take care of the infection: Ultra virus killer and Malwarebytes Anti Malware (MBAM).

Steps to take if both EXE and COM file associations are corrupted:

If the .exe file extension is corrupted, download File extension fixer.com.

If the .com file extension has also been corrupted, follow the steps below:

Exe File Viewer Online

1: Right-click a file that has an 'Open with' context menu (eg: a text or word document or a picture), hover Open with... and click Choose default program.

2: Uncheck the box that says to always open this file type with this program.

3: Click the Browse button, browse to the path where File extension fixer is located and click to select it.

Open Exe File Online Mac

4: Click the Open button.

If you're working on Windows Vista or higher, and the User account control is enabled, these steps won't work in normal mode if the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTexefile has been completely deleted, because windows won't be able to set the administrator rights for ExeFixer.

Thus, if you didn't manage to run File extension fixer using the steps above, reboot into safe mode and repeat the procedure.

Once you've managed to run File extension fixer, you can use its features to fix your computer,

While you're working in safe mode, it may be useful to disable the User account control, especially if the computer is still infected, because the malware will certainly delete the .exe extension again once you reboot in normal mode.

To disable the User account control, type or paste the text below in the File extension fixer's Run field and hit Enter:

cmd /c reg add HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows CurrentVersionPoliciesSystem /v 'EnableLUA' /t reg_dword /d 0 /f

You can also press the Enable and run Regedit button, search for the value EnableLUA under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoft WindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem key and change its data to 0.

Now you shouldl be able to run File extension fixer in normal mode.