How to open a .pl file
Quick, free ways to open Perl on any system.
A .pl file is a Perl Script. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Perl yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .pl file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .pl. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Strawberry Perl or VS Code.
- On Mac, use Terminal (perl) or VS Code.
- On Linux, try perl (preinstalled) or VS Code.
- Still stuck? Search for a dedicated Perl viewer.
Best apps to open .pl files
Windows
- Strawberry Perl
- VS Code
- any text editor
macOS
- Terminal (perl)
- VS Code
- any text editor
Linux
- perl (preinstalled)
- VS Code
- any text editor
!
Before you open it: Caution. A .pl file is a script that can do anything the interpreter allows, including changing files. Read unfamiliar scripts before running them.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .pl file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Perl. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I run a .pl file?
With Perl installed, run perl file.pl from a terminal. On Linux and macOS Perl is usually preinstalled; on Windows, Strawberry Perl is the common distribution.
What is the difference between .pl and .pm?
A .pl file is a runnable Perl script; a .pm file is a Perl module, a library of functions that scripts pull in with use or require.