What is a .exe file?
Windows Executable · Disk image · Microsoft · 1980s
An EXE is a Windows program, a file that runs code when you open it. It is how most Windows software and installers ship, which also makes it the format to be most careful with, because a malicious EXE can do real harm.
What is a .exe file used for?
An EXE contains machine code that Windows runs directly. Applications, games and installers are all EXE files.
Because opening one runs a program, an EXE is powerful and potentially dangerous. This is the single format where source matters most.
EXE files do not run on Mac or Linux without a compatibility layer like Wine, and even then not all will work.
What opens a .exe file?
The .exe format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- Run by double-clicking (trusted only)
macOS
- Wine (limited)
- not native
Linux
- Wine (limited)
- not native
Web
- Not applicable
Open a .exe file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .exe. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Run by double-clicking (trusted only).
- On Mac, use Wine (limited) or not native.
- On Linux, try Wine (limited) or not native.
- Still stuck? Convert the .exe to Not convertible, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .exe file?
Almost always because no installed app understands EXE. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .exe at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .exe file
You can convert a .exe file to Not convertible using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .exe file signature (magic bytes)?
A .exe file starts with the hex bytes 4D 5A, which read as MZ in ASCII. Programs identify EXE by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for EXE. For a full breakdown, see the PE (EXE / DLL) file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4D 5A | 0 | MZ | 'MZ' DOS header |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .exe file?
An EXE is a Windows program, a file that runs code when you open it. It is how most Windows software and installers ship, which also makes it the format to be most careful with, because a malicious EXE can do real harm.
Is it safe to run an EXE file?
Only if you trust the source. An EXE runs code on your computer, so download them from official websites and scan them before running.
How do I run an EXE on a Mac?
Macs cannot run EXE files natively. A compatibility layer like Wine or CrossOver can run some Windows programs, but support varies.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references. How sources are ranked and what is deliberately left out is set out in the methodology.