What is a .SFX file?
A .SFX file is a type of compressed file, specifically called a Windows Self-extracting Archive. This means that the file includes both the data you want to store in compressed form and a program that can automatically open or "extract" this data. When you have a .SFX file, you don't need a separate software to decompress or unzip the file; it can do that by itself when you click on it. This is very useful because it simplifies the process of accessing the contents of the archive.
Although these files usually end with a .exe extension, indicating that they are executable programs, they can sometimes have a .sfx extension. If you see a file with a .sfx extension, it works in the same way as one with an .exe extension.
To open a .SFX file, you can simply double-click on it if you are using a Windows computer. The file will automatically run the included program to extract the contents to a location on your computer.
There are several programs that can also open and manage .SFX files if you need more control over how the file is extracted. These include: - **PeaZip**: This is a free file compression tool that supports many archive formats including .SFX files. - **Microsoft Windows**: The operating system itself can handle .SFX files without needing additional software. - **RARLAB WinRAR**: This is a popular compression tool that can create, open, and manage .SFX archives. - **Corel WinZip**: Another well-known program that can handle many types of compressed files, including .SFX. - **7-Zip**: This is a free and open-source file archiver that supports a variety of archive formats. - **Incredible Bee Archiver**: This tool is also capable of managing .SFX files, though it is more commonly used on Mac computers.
It's important to note that the original programs that were used to create .SFX files might no longer be developed or maintained. However, the format is still supported by modern software. Additionally, some audio tracker programs like OpenMPT might recognize .SFX files, but in a different context related to sound modules rather than compressed archives.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .SFX file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.