Open ANI files

  • Full name
    Animated Cursor
  • Developer
    Microsoft
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a ANI file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a ANI file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your ANI file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is ANI file?

The file extension ANI marks so-called Microsoft Windows animated cursor files, ie animated cursors or mouse pointer files. Ani files are similar to cur files in Ico format. However, while cur files contain only one image, the ANI file contains several images that can be played back as an animation. In addition, you also include information about the author, frame rate and playing time. The rotating hourglass or the circle with rotating gradient (as of Vista) are such ANI files.

More info

The ANI format was introduced with Windows 95, then expanded in later Windows version to allow also multicolored cursors. However, many cursor files still have the cur format. Even under Windows 7 cur files are still used.

Directly under Windows, ANI files can not be opened without a corresponding editor. In order to assign an ANI file to a specific mouse pointer state, you have to go to the control panel under Display on the mouse pointer properties. Under the tab pointer you will find a whole series of ready-made topics that access different ANI files.

Own ANI files are assigned by selecting the appropriate state and clicking on Browse. (do not forget to save the new theme) Ani themes can also be part of a whole desktop theme.

To create ANI files yourself or to view or change existing ones, there are various graphics programs, but also special editors.

It should be noted that Microsoft announced on 31/07/2007 security vulnerability of ANI files. The problem is Windows 2000 to Vista. A security fix for Windows (Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-017; KB 925902) resolves this issue.

Programs which can open a ANI file

How to open file with ANI extension?

In order to open a file with ANI extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening ANI file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with ANI files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install Inkscape or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening ANI files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support ANI files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of ANI files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set Inkscape as the default program for opening ANI files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate ANI files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the Inkscape applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Inkscape has been installed.

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3
Check the section that lists most common problems with ANI files

Sometimes problems with opening ANI files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • ANI files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open ANI files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • ANI file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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