How to open a .less file
Quick, free ways to open Less on any system.
A .less file is a Leaner Style Sheets. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Less yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .less file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .less. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VS Code or WebStorm.
- On Mac, use VS Code or WebStorm.
- On Linux, try VS Code or vim.
- Still stuck? Convert the .less to css, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .less files
Windows
- VS Code
- WebStorm
- any text editor
macOS
- VS Code
- WebStorm
- any text editor
Linux
- VS Code
- vim
- any text editor
!
Before you open it: Safe. Less is stylesheet source, not executable code. It compiles to CSS, which only styles a page.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .less file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Less. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
What is the difference between Less and Sass?
Both are CSS preprocessors with variables and nesting. Sass is more powerful and popular today; Less is simpler and was tied to early Bootstrap.
How do I compile a .less file?
Use the lessc compiler (lessc styles.less styles.css), or let your build tool convert it to CSS automatically.