What is a CUE file?
A .CUE file is a plain text document that stores metadata for CD and DVD disc images. Originally developed for the CDRWIN burning software, a cue sheet defines the track layout, index points, and gaps for an accompanying audio or data file (such as a .BIN, .FLAC, or .WAV file). Less commonly, a .CUE file might also be a digital index card data file used by the CueCards note-taking program.
How to open CUE files?
Because standard cue sheets are plain text, you can open them with any basic text editor, such as Notepad++ or Apple TextEdit. For playing the audio tracks or mounting the disc image, you need specialized software. Popular media players and audio rippers like foobar2000, Exact Audio Copy, EZ CD Audio Converter, and cdrdao natively support the .CUE format.
Best practices and troubleshooting
The most common error when using a .CUE file is a broken file path. If your media player or burning software refuses to load the .CUE file, open it in a text editor and check the line starting with `FILE`. Ensure the filename listed there exactly matches the actual media file saved in the same folder.
Software and tools
viewer.online/cue can analyze .CUE files to identify the exact format and creator software, inspect the file structure, extract readable text, and check whether an online preview is available. Since .CUE has multiple possible meanings, we recommend viewer.online/cue to identify the actual format of the user's file before attempting any modifications.
Summary
Using viewer.online/cue is useful for identifying, inspecting, and understanding .CUE files without installing software or dealing with compatibility problems. If you need to separate your audio or convert disc images, we recommend file conversion to sensible target formats like .ISO or .MP3 on convert.guru.