.exe Windows or EFI program
Programs & libraries
| MIME type | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable application/x-dosexec application/x-ms-ne-executable application/x-msdownload |
|---|---|
| Description | Windows or EFI program |
| Acronym | EFI – Extensible Firmware Interface |
| Category | Programs & libraries |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 4D 5A (MZ) |
| Based on | application/x-msdownload |
| Other extensions | .cpl, .dll, .drv, .efi, .lib, .ocx, .scr, .sys |
Frequently asked questions
What is a .exe file?
The .exe extension is used for several formats: Windows or EFI program (application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable), DOS executable (application/x-dosexec), 16-bit Windows program (application/x-ms-ne-executable) and Windows or DOS program (application/x-msdownload). EFI stands for Extensible Firmware Interface.
How do I open a .exe file?
This is executable code or a library. Only open such files from trusted sources; to inspect them, use tools such as file, objdump or a hex editor.
How can you tell a genuine .exe file?
By the bytes at the start of the file, the signature (magic bytes): 4D 5A (MZ). On Linux and macOS, file --mime-type example.exe checks the real type regardless of the extension.
Which format is .exe based on?
Technically a .exe file is a subtype of “Windows or DOS program” (application/x-msdownload), so programs for that base format can often read it too.
Which MIME type belongs to .exe?
The MIME type is application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable. In the Apache web server: AddType application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable .exe; in nginx: types { application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable exe; }.