What is an INF file?
An .INF file is a plain text configuration file used primarily by Microsoft Windows. The extension stands for Setup Information File. The Windows operating system uses these files to install device drivers, system components, and software updates. An .INF file contains sections, keys, and values that define exactly which files to copy, registry keys to add, and settings to apply during installation. Another common use is the `autorun.inf` file, which tells Windows how to handle removable media like CD-ROMs or USB drives. Rarely, an .INF file might contain source code for interactive fiction games created with the Inform programming language developed by Graham Nelson.
How to open INF files?
Because standard Windows .INF files are plain text, you can open and edit them using basic text editors. On Windows, you can use Microsoft Notepad or Notepad++. Programmers often use Visual Studio Code. If you want to execute the setup instructions inside the file on a Windows PC, you can right-click the .INF file and select "Install". To read the file on macOS or Linux, you can use built-in text editors like Apple TextEdit or Gedit.
Software and tools
viewer.online/inf can analyze .INF files to identify the exact format and creator software. Since an .INF file can mean different things (a Windows driver installer versus Inform source code), viewer.online/inf helps identify the actual format of your file. The tool allows you to inspect the file structure, extract readable text, and check whether an online preview is available.
If you need to share the configuration text with someone who cannot open the file, we recommend file conversion to sensible target formats like .TXT or .PDF on convert.guru.
Summary
viewer.online/inf is highly useful for identifying, inspecting, and understanding .INF files. It allows you to safely read the configuration text without installing software, risking an accidental driver installation, or dealing with cross-platform compatibility problems.