OpenAnyFile
What is a .url file?
Internet Shortcut is a shortcut format developed by Microsoft, first released in 1995. It is usually created by Windows (dragging a link to the desktop).
An INI text file with a URL= line. Shown here as a link you choose to follow — never opened automatically.
File details
| Full name | Internet Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Category | Shortcuts & links |
| MIME type | application/x-url |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 5B 49 6E 74 65 72 6E 65 74 53 68 6F 72 74 63 75 74 5D ([InternetShortcut]) |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 1995 |
| Opens with | Link decoder |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .url file
OpenAnyFile routes .url files to its link decoder, which shows the address the shortcut points to.
- Drop your .url 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 link decoder.
- 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 address the shortcut points to. 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 .url 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 .url files
Can I open a .url file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .url files in your browser using its link decoder. You get the address the shortcut points to, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .url file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine URL file begins with 5B 49 6E 74 65 72 6E 65 74 53 68 6F 72 74 63 75 74 5D ([InternetShortcut]). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .url 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.