How to open Executable program .exe files
Have you had trouble opening the exe file on your computer? What are exe files? We explain what they are and recommend software that we know will open them.
What is exe file?
Files with exe extension has been the standard for primary executable files since the era of MS-DOS and are still used as main executables in Windows.
Executable program description
EXE file (short for 'executable') is a type of file that contains a software program - that is, a particular kind of file that is capable of being executed or run as a program in the computer.
These files were originally used in MS-DOS, but nowadays are just common program executables on Windows platform. They come in either 16/32/64-bit version variants.
When a user double-clicks on an EXE file, the operating system runs the program or software contained within that file. This file format is primarily associated with the Windows operating system.
Suggested software to open exe file
Microsoft Windows
A series of operating systems developed by Microsoft
Microsoft Visual Studio
IDE for creating programs, or websites and web applications
Microsoft Windows 11
Latest version of Windows OS
Microsoft Windows 10
Operating system for deskop, laptop and tablet computers
There are other EXE filename extensions with the same .exe suffix
exe - Canvas X slide show
Files with exe extension might also be slide shows exported from Canvas X software. Standalone, self-running app that contains the slideshow.
exe - Compressed file archive that self-extracts
Files with exe extension can also appear as unique self-extracting compressed archives. Essentially, these are archives that include a small executable program that decompresses the archive.