file is a shell command for reporting the type of data contained in a file. It is commonly supported in Unix and Unix-like operating systems.
As the command uses relatively quick-running heuristics to determine file type, it can report misleading information. The command can be fooled, for example, by including a magic number in the content even if the rest of the content does not match what the magic number indicates. The command report cannot be taken as completely trustworthy.
The Single UNIX Specification (SUS) requires the command to exhibit the following behavior with respect to the file specified via the command-line:
Position-sensitive tests are normally implemented by matching various locations within the file against a textual database of magic numbers (see the Usage section). This differs from other simpler methods such as file extensions and schemes like MIME.
What is File?
File is an open-source terminals & cli tool program for Windows from GnuWin32. It is written in C. Besides Windows, it is available for Unix-like operating system.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 32-bit as EXE (Inno Setup). The main installer is 835 KB. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 18,424 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 19 of our languages. Similar programs include PowerShell, Oh My Posh and QPDF.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Small download (835 KB)
- Also runs on Unix-like operating system
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- No update for more than a year
In short: File is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is File safe to download?
- The file is served by sourceforge.net, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
0DB86B11F518A2CA53AFE7A5D3F9666F4D9B5CB23D7CE4369654CCFC75D2C857· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.03Latest | November 4, 2024 | 835 KB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id GnuWin32.File -echoco install file -yscoop install main/filedownload /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- GnuWin32
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- GnuWin License
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com
- Written in
- C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Other platforms
- Unix-like operating system
- Version
- 5.03
- Released
- November 4, 2024
- Added to the catalogue
- November 4, 2024
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 18,424
- Website
- gnuwin32.sourceforge.net
- winget ID
- GnuWin32.File
- Chocolatey package
- file
- Scoop package
- main/file
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to File
See all ›-
PowerShell7.6.9.0PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.Open source689.6K ↓ -
Open source820.8K ↓ -
QPDF12.4.2QPDF is a command-line tool and C++ library that performs content-preserving transformations on PDF files.Open source2.1M ↓ -
Alacritty0.17.0Alacritty is a free and open-source GPU accelerated terminal emulator focused on performance and simplicity.Open source75.9K ↓ -
Open source290.1K ↓ -
Cygwin3.7.0-0.590.gdae171e433cdA large collection of GNU and Open Source tools which provide functionality similar to a Linux distribution on Windows.Open source2.6M ↓ -
Open source1.5M ↓ -
Open source112.5K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is File free?
Yes. File is open-source software under the GnuWin License licence.
Is File safe to download?
The download comes from sourceforge.net, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install File with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can File be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does File run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
What are alternatives to File?
PowerShell, Oh My Posh, QPDF, Alacritty and fzf. The alternatives page compares them.
