OpenAnyFile
What is a .asx file?
Advanced Stream Redirector is an audio format developed by Microsoft, first released in 1999. It is usually created by Windows Media streaming sites.
A small XML pointer to Windows Media streams, not media itself.
File details
| Full name | Advanced Stream Redirector |
|---|---|
| Category | Audio |
| MIME type | video/x-ms-asf |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 3C 41 53 58 (<ASX) |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 1999 |
| Opens with | Code viewer |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .asx file
OpenAnyFile routes .asx files to its code viewer, which shows the source with syntax highlighting.
- Drop your .asx file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the code viewer.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: the source with syntax highlighting. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .asx file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .asx files
Can I open a .asx file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .asx files in your browser using its code viewer. You get the source with syntax highlighting, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .asx file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine ASX file begins with 3C 41 53 58 (<ASX). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .asx file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.