Open CAB files

  • Full name
    Windows Cabinet Compressed Archive
  • Developer
    Microsoft
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a CAB 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 CAB file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your CAB file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is CAB file?

CAB files are so-called Windows Cabinet Archives, which quite similar to Zip or Winrar represents a format for the compressed archiving of data. The compression method can be zip (deflate), Quantum and LZX. Cab files can contain not only the actual data but also digital signatures.

More info

Cab files are primarily used for installation files of programs, drivers, or Windows system files, and most often come with a Setup.Exe or install.Exe. It is also possible to integrate CAB files into other files, as is often the case with msi files. (msi files are also installation files)

Many packagers can open most CAB files, depending on which program the CAB files were created from.

Programs which can open a CAB file

How to open file with CAB extension?

In order to open a file with CAB extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening CAB 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 CAB files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install WinZip or other program from the list

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

Set WinZip as the default program for opening CAB 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 CAB 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 WinZip applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where WinZip has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with CAB files

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

  • File data is corrupted
  • CAB 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 CAB files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • CAB 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)

Possible conversions of CAB file

Similar extensions