Open WSF files

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

What is WSF file?

WSF files are Windows Script files that are executed by an interpreter. In essence, they are text files that contain code in Extensible Markup Language (XML). Windows Scripting is quite flexible and language-independent by the support of different scripting languages. Windows Script acts as a kind of container and can include Visual Basic Script, JScript, or Perl and Python.

More info

To view or edit WSF files, a simple text editor is sufficient. Also Visual Studio can deal with WSF files and debug them.

To run WSF files you need the Windows Script Host. This has been part of the standard installation since Windows 98 SE, in which only Visual Basic Script and JScript are supported. Other scripting languages must be installed by script module. If the Windows Script Host is installed, you can simply start WSF files by double-clicking like an exe file.

Caution is recommended for unknown WSF files as they may contain viruses.

Programs which can open a WSF file

How to open file with WSF extension?

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

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

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

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Check the section that lists most common problems with WSF files

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

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