File Extension/SFX
alphabetical list of extensions

File extension .SFX

File description

SFX file is a self-extracting format. It is a type of archive file to store data files along with the program instructions which are machine executable.

These program instructions are used to extract the data from the single file to the hard drive. SFX file type is an executable file which extracts the content of the file when the user opens it. The contents of the file are compressed before adding them to the archive. Those files which are not efficiently compressed while saved are compressed by the compressing utility before they are added in the archive of the file so sizes of already compressed files are not reduced.

Description of the problem
If you have on your computer a .SFX file that you cannot open, you are in exactly the same situation as thousands of other people who have similar problems with this or any other unknown file.

There may be several reasons why you cannot open the file with .SFX extension. Directly on this website you can find a solution of the most common problem with the .SFX file – that you do not have on your computer the appropriate program to open the file.
Solution
From the list below, select the appropriate program, install it and double click on the icon of a file that did not want to open - the problem with the .SFX file extension should be solved. However, if this does not happen, go back to the website to learn about other possible causes of the error, which have been described at the bottom of the website.
Category
Compressed Files
Developer
N/A
Popularity
StarStarStarStar
Last updated
July 18, 2014
File name: Windows Self-Extracting Archive
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
7-Zip 7-Zip
Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows
WinRAR WinRAR
WinZip WinZip
Mac OS
Mac OS
iArchiver iArchiver
Remember!
The .SFX file extension can correspond to several not related file formats. If there is more than one file format with the .SFX extension, you will probably find most of them at this website. Remember that you need to download a program to support a particular file type. So first look through the entire contents of the website to select a program to support just the file you have.

Other possible reasons why your .SFX file does not want to open

In addition to the problem described above, i.e. the lack of the appropriate application to support the .SFX file, there may be several reasons that cause problems with opening and operation of the data format:

1. Incorrect version of the installed application

A quite common problem is the lack of application in the appropriate version. Even if you have an application, with the help of which you should open the .SFX file, you may have a problem with it because of its version. Perhaps in previous versions the application has not yet supported the .SFX file, so download the update and check again.

2. Incorrect .SFX file association with the program

If you have already installed the appropriate application, and it is the correct version, the file may not open correctly, because the operating system does not have information that this program supports the file. So you need to "show" which program the computer should use. To do this:

  • Right-click the .SFX file
  • Go to the "Open with" - then "Choose default program ..."
  • Locate the appropriate application
  • Click "OK"

3. The file is corrupt

It also happens that the file you want to open is corrupt and therefore there is no such possibility. In this situation, you should find its different version, or ask a person from whom you got, to send it again.