How to open a .shp file
Quick, free ways to open Shapefile on any system.
A .shp file is a Esri Shapefile. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Shapefile yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .shp file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .shp. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with QGIS or ArcGIS Pro.
- On Mac, use QGIS or GDAL/OGR.
- On Linux, try QGIS or GDAL/OGR.
- Still stuck? Convert the .shp to geojson, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .shp files
Windows
- QGIS
- ArcGIS Pro
- GDAL/OGR (ogr2ogr)
macOS
- QGIS
- GDAL/OGR
Linux
- QGIS
- GDAL/OGR
!
Before you open it: Safe. A .shp file is geometry data read by GIS software; it does not execute.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .shp file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Shapefile. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a .shp file?
QGIS (free) or ArcGIS opens it directly; drag the whole fileset in, keeping the .shp, .shx and .dbf files together in one folder.
Why does my shapefile have no attributes or draw in the wrong place?
Missing companions: the .dbf holds the attributes and the .prj the coordinate system. Without them you get bare, possibly misplaced geometry.