Open TXT files

Full name

Simple Text Format
Developer

N/A
Popularity

Have you encountered a problem with a TXT 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 TXT file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your TXT file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is TXT file?

TXT are so-called plain text files, so simple text. Normally these are sequential strings of representable characters. Control characters are used for structuring. Mostly an ASCII or Unicode encoding is used. Such documents can be opened and viewed by any word processing program or text editor. Even a browser is able to display such files.

More info

However, it should be noted that very simple as well as slightly older text editors may not be able to handle all encodings and thus, for example, German umlauts encoded in UTF-8 can not display properly.

It is also important, for example, that texts are generated for web pages in the coding, which should later also use the website.

Programs which can open a TXT file

Windows

Linux

Mac OS

Android

Windows Phone

How to open file with TXT extension?

In order to open a file with TXT extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening TXT 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 TXT files, follow the instructions below.

Install Apple TextEdit or other program from the list

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

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

Check the section that lists most common problems with TXT files

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

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