How to open a .f90 file
Quick, free ways to open Fortran on any system.
A .f90 file is a Fortran Source File. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Fortran yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .f90 file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .f90. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VS Code (Modern Fortran) or gfortran (to compile).
- On Mac, use VS Code (Modern Fortran) or gfortran.
- On Linux, try VS Code (Modern Fortran) or gfortran.
- Still stuck? Convert the .f90 to exe (compiled), which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .f90 files
Windows
- VS Code (Modern Fortran)
- gfortran (to compile)
- any text editor
macOS
- VS Code (Modern Fortran)
- gfortran
- any text editor
Linux
- VS Code (Modern Fortran)
- gfortran
- any text editor
!
Before you open it: Caution. An .f90 file is program source. Compiling and running it executes its code; review unfamiliar files first.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .f90 file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Fortran. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I run an .f90 file?
Compile it with a Fortran compiler, for example gfortran file.f90 -o program, then run the resulting executable. Intel's ifx is a common alternative compiler.
What is the difference between .f and .f90?
Layout. .f (and .for) files use the old fixed-column format from the punch-card era; .f90 and .f95 files use the free-form layout that modern Fortran allows.