How to open a .go file
Quick, free ways to open Go on any system.
A .go file is a Go Source File. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Go yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .go file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .go. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VS Code or GoLand.
- On Mac, use VS Code or GoLand.
- On Linux, try VS Code or vim.
- Still stuck? Convert the .go to exe (via go build), which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .go files
Windows
- VS Code
- GoLand
- any text editor
macOS
- VS Code
- GoLand
- any text editor
Linux
- VS Code
- vim
- any text editor
!
Before you open it: Caution. Go source is a program. Building or running it executes its logic, so review unfamiliar code first.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .go file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Go. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I run a .go file?
With Go installed, run go run file.go to execute it, or go build to compile a standalone binary.
How do I open a .go file?
Any text editor shows the source. VS Code with the Go extension adds formatting, hints and debugging.