OpenAnyFile
What is a .smi file?
SAMI Captions is a subtitle format developed by Microsoft, first released in 1998. It is usually created by Windows Media Player, Korean subtitle sites.
HTML-like tags keyed to milliseconds; still the dominant subtitle format on Korean subtitle sites.
File details
| Full name | SAMI Captions |
|---|---|
| Category | Subtitles |
| MIME type | application/x-sami |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 3C 53 41 4D 49 3E (<SAMI>) |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 1998 |
| Opens with | Text reader |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .smi file
OpenAnyFile routes .smi files to its text reader, which shows the full text.
- Drop your .smi 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 text reader.
- 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 full text. 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 .smi 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 .smi files
Can I open a .smi file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .smi files in your browser using its text reader. You get the full text, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .smi file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine SMI file begins with 3C 53 41 4D 49 3E (<SAMI>). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .smi 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.