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INI File - What is an .ini file and how do I open it?
Learn about .INI files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an INI file? An INI file is a configuration file used by Windows programs to initialize program settings. It contains sections for settings and preferences (delimited by a string in square brackets) with each section containing one or more name and value parameters.
More Information INI files can be edited with a plain text editor, but typically should not be edited or altered by regular users. INI files were partially replaced by the registry database in Windows 95. More recently, they have also been replaced by XML files.
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DeveloperAdvanced Gravis Computer Technology
Popularity2.9 | 22 Votes
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In-Depth
.INI File Extension
4 file types use the .ini file extension.
Windows Initialization File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 247 Votes |
NEW: Open your .INI file online with File Helper . View Online
What is an INI file?
An INI file is a configuration file used by Windows programs to initialize program settings. It contains sections for settings and preferences (delimited by a string in square brackets) with each section containing one or more name and value parameters.
More Information
INI files can be edited with a plain text editor, but typically should not be edited or altered by regular users. INI files were partially replaced by the registry database in Windows 95. More recently, they have also been replaced by XML files.
Common INI Filenames
desktop.ini - A hidden file located in Windows folders that saves viewing options for that specific folder. This file can specify an image that is used for the folder icon as well as appearance options for files within the folder. It can be ignored, but if you delete the desktop.ini file, Windows may generate a new one. Mac OS X .DS_STORE files serve a similar purpose.
Programs that open or reference INI files
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Program Name
Platform
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X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Microsoft Windows
Paid
Microsoft Notepad
Included with OS
Microsoft WordPad
Other text editor
Mac
Parallels Desktop for Mac with Windows installed
Free Trial
Web
FileHelper.com
Free
Android
File Viewer for Android
Free +
Category: Settings Files
Updated: February 26, 2019
Symbian OS Configuration File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.3 | 32 Votes |
Configuration file that stores settings and user preferences for the Symbian operating system and installed applications; similar to INI files used by Windows and typically should not be opened manually.
More Information
NOTE: Symbian INI files can be edited with a text editor to modify specific settings. However, altering the INI file may cause the operating system or other programs to not function correctly. Therefore, be sure to backup the file and only edit the file if you know exactly what to add or change.
Programs that open or reference INI files
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Windows
Editable with a text editor
Mac
Editable with a text editor
Category: Settings Files
Updated: August 29, 2007
Finale Preferences File
| Developer | MakeMusic |
| Popularity |
3.0 | 26 Votes |
File created by Finale, a music notation program; contains Finale program settings to customize the work environment; settings include dialog boxes, menu settings, and font styles; preset in Finale but can be edited either through settings dialog windows or manually.
More Information
INI files are divided into 9 sections: [Settings] [MIDI] [Extensions] [Preferences] [Colors] [Chromatic Spelling Tables] [Palettes] [Speedy Keys] [Directories]
Programs that open or reference INI files
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Platform
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Windows
MakeMusic Finale
Free Trial
Mac
MakeMusic Finale
Free Trial
Category: Data Files
Updated: November 21, 2013
Gravis UltraSound Bank Setup File
| Developer | Advanced Gravis Computer Technology |
| Popularity |
2.9 | 22 Votes |
An INI file contains settings that define how the Gravis UltraSound (GUS) sound card should load and use instrument bank files. It stores plain text settings that reference a .FFF file, which contains audio data for various instrument sounds, and a set of patch files ( .PAT Gravis UltraSound GF1 Patch files), which customize or extend the instrument library. INI files are mostly obsolete today due to changes in audio hardware and standards, and decreased usage of GUS cards.
More Information
Gravis UltraSound was a popular sound card for IBM-compatible PCs in the early to mid-1990s, especially among gamers and musicians who wanted high-quality wavetable synthesis. Unlike many competing cards of its time, the GUS could load custom instrument patches into onboard RAM, allowing for richer and more flexible audio playback. This capability made it a popular choice for .MOD music playback and demo scene productions, as well as some DOS games that supported it directly.
INI files played a key role in this process. When a game or music player started up, it would read the INI file to determine which sound data to load into the GUS's memory, ensuring that instruments were mapped correctly for MIDI or tracker playback.
This setup gave users a fair amount of control over the audio experience, though it also meant that configuration could be tricky without the correct INI settings. For example, developers could edit these files to adjust instrument mapping, volume, or other playback parameters.
How to open an INI file
You can open INI files with FMJ-Software Awave Studio in Windows. Since INI files contain plain text, you can also open, view, and modify them with a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad (Windows), Apple TextEdit , and gedit (Linux). However, incorrectly modifying an INI file will break it.
Programs that open or reference INI files
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FMJ-Software Awave Studio
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Category: Settings Files
Updated: May 8, 2025