Windows
Compatible applications
Quick Facts
Basic information about this file format
Extension
.TXT
File Type
Plain Text File
Category
Document
Best first step
Use compatible software
Quick Summary
A practical overview of the .txt file format
A TXT file is a standard text document that contains unformatted text. It is one of the most basic and universally supported file formats, designed to store sequences of characters without any specific formatting, such as bolding, italics, or font styles. TXT files are typically encoded using ASCII…
File extension
.TXT
File type
Plain Text File
Category
Document
Recommended action
Open with a trusted compatible app
How to open a .txt file
Start with a trusted app that supports this format
- Check the file extension carefully and confirm that the file name really ends with .txt.
- Use software that supports this file type. If one app does not work, try another compatible program for the same platform.
- Update the application if the file was created by a newer version of the software.
- Scan files from unknown sources before opening them, especially documents, archives, scripts, installers, and executable files.
What is a .txt file?
File extension details and usage information
A TXT file is a standard text document that contains unformatted text. It is one of the most basic and universally supported file formats, designed to store sequences of characters without any specific formatting, such as bolding, italics, or font styles. TXT files are typically encoded using ASCII, UTF-8, or other character encoding schemes. They are widely used for storing simple notes, configuration files, source code, log files, and any other data that needs to be represented as plain text. Because of their simplicity, TXT files are highly portable and can be opened and edited by virtually any text editor or word processor on any operating system. They are often used as a lowest-common-denominator format for exchanging text-based information between different applications and platforms. While TXT files lack advanced formatting capabilities, their simplicity and compatibility make them an essential part of digital communication and data storage.
Software Compatibility
Programs that may open or work with .txt files
macOS
Compatible applications
Linux
Compatible applications
Mobile
Mobile applications
Can .txt files be converted?
Options for saving or exporting this file to another format
In many cases, a .txt file can be converted by opening it in compatible software and using an option such as Save As, Export, or Convert. The available output formats depend on the file type and the application used.
- Use the original software that created the file when possible.
- Check whether the application supports exporting to common formats.
- Be careful with online converters when working with private, business, or sensitive files.
- If conversion fails, the file may be corrupted, incomplete, encrypted, or not actually a .txt file.
Why can't I open a .txt file?
Common reasons this file type may not open correctly
Wrong software
The file may require a specific program that supports the .txt format.
Incorrect extension
The file extension may have been renamed manually, even though the actual file format is different.
Corrupted file
The file may be incomplete, damaged during download, or transferred incorrectly.
Outdated app
Your software may need to be updated before it can open newer versions of this file format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about .txt files
To open a .txt file, use software that supports this file format.
- Notepad
- Notepad++
- Microsoft Word
- WordPad
- Sublime Text
Open the file in compatible software and look for options such as Save As, Export, or Convert. If no export option is available, the file may require a specialized converter or the original application that created it.
- Verify that the file extension is correct.
- Install or update compatible software.
- Try another application that supports this format.
- Check whether the file is corrupted, incomplete, or encrypted.
A file extension alone does not guarantee whether a file is safe or unsafe. Only open files from trusted sources, scan unknown files before opening them, and be especially careful with executable, script, archive, and document files.
File safety tips
Use caution with unknown files
Only open files from trusted sources. Before opening a .txt file, scan it with antivirus software, verify that the file extension is expected, and avoid running unknown executable, installer, macro-enabled document, or script files.