How to open a .properties file
Quick, free ways to open Properties on any system.
A .properties file is a Java Properties File. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Properties yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .properties file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .properties. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse.
- On Mac, use IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse.
- On Linux, try IntelliJ IDEA or VS Code.
- Still stuck? Convert the .properties to yaml, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .properties files
Windows
- IntelliJ IDEA
- Eclipse
- VS Code
macOS
- IntelliJ IDEA
- Eclipse
- VS Code
Linux
- IntelliJ IDEA
- VS Code
- any text editor
!
Before you open it: Safe. A properties file is plain-text configuration and does not execute.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .properties file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Properties. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a .properties file?
Any text editor opens it, and Java IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA add syntax help. Each line is a simple key=value pair.
What is a .properties file used for?
Configuration and localisation in Java applications: database settings, feature flags and translated message bundles, one key-value pair per line.