.ASICE file extension
To open .ASICE files on Windows, install or open the ASiC/e-signature application recommended by the sender or service provider, such as DigiDoc4, eParakstītājs 3.0, or e-Szignó where applicable.
To open a .asice file, use an ASiC-E-compatible digital signature application, such as the e-signature software used by the sender or issuing country. You can sometimes inspect it as a ZIP archive, but proper viewing and signature validation require ASiC-aware software.
Last updated: April 29, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker
Open on your device
Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.
How to open .ASICE files
Use these platform-specific instructions to open .ASICE files safely.
Windows
- Install or open the ASiC/e-signature application recommended by the sender or service provider, such as DigiDoc4, eParakstītājs 3.0, or e-Szignó where applicable.
- Right-click the .asice file, choose Open with, and select the e-signature application.
- Use the application's validation or signature details view to confirm who signed the file and whether the signature is valid.
- If you only need to inspect the contents, make a copy and open the copy with a ZIP-capable archive tool, but do not rely on this for signature validation.
Mac
- Use an ASiC-E-compatible e-signature application provided by the relevant service or country, if available.
- Control-click the .asice file, choose Open With, and select the installed signing or validation application.
- Check the application's validation result before trusting the documents inside.
- If no compatible app is available, transfer the file to a desktop environment where the sender's recommended ASiC software is available.
Linux
- Use an ASiC-E-compatible validation tool or library-based application, such as software based on DigiDoc4j where appropriate for your workflow.
- Open the file from your file manager with Open With, or run the validation tool according to its documentation.
- If you only need to see the embedded files, open a copy as a ZIP archive; do not edit or repackage it if the signature must remain valid.
iOS
- iOS does not provide reliable native ASiC-E validation; open the file in the Files app and share it to a trusted e-signature app if one is installed.
- If no compatible app is available, send the file to a desktop computer or to the web/service workflow recommended by the sender.
Android
- Android does not normally validate .asice files by itself; open the file from Downloads or Files and choose a trusted e-signature app if available.
- If the file only downloads or cannot be previewed, transfer it to a computer with an ASiC-E-compatible validation application.
Security notes
- A .asice file can contain ordinary documents and other embedded files; only open attachments or extracted content that you expected to receive.
- Do not treat a visible document inside the archive as trustworthy until the ASiC-aware application reports a valid signature.
- Do not edit, extract and repackage, or rename the container when the legal validity of the signature matters.
- Be cautious with generic ZIP extraction: it may expose file names and contents, but it does not verify the signer, timestamp, or certificate status.
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Can't open this file?
These are the most common causes and fixes when .ASICE files fail to open.
Common reasons
- The .asice file opens as a ZIP archive instead of a signed document
- The signature shows as invalid after extraction or editing
- No application is associated with .asice
- The validation app reports missing or unknown certificate information
Fix steps
- Use an ASiC-E-aware signing or validation application to open the file.
- Do not judge the signature status from the ZIP contents alone.
- Avoid changing, deleting, or adding files inside the archive.
OS-specific troubleshooting
What is a .ASICE file?
.ASICE files are ASiC-E, or Associated Signature Container Extended, files defined by ETSI standards. Technically, an ASiC-E file is a ZIP-based container that can hold one or more signed files, digital signatures, timestamps, and protocol or validation information. The official MIME type is application/vnd.etsi.asic-e+zip, and the related extension .sce may also be used.
Background
ASiC-E is used in electronic signature workflows, especially in European public-sector, legal, and business processes where signed documents must be kept together with their signature data. Instead of storing a signature separately, the ASiC-E container keeps the signed content and signature-related files in one portable package.
Common MIME types: application/vnd.etsi.asic-e+zip
Further reading
Authoritative resources for more details on the .ASICE format.
Common .ASICE issues
The .asice file opens as a ZIP archive instead of a signed document
ASiC-E is ZIP-based, so archive tools may show its internal files without understanding the electronic signature.
- Use an ASiC-E-aware signing or validation application to open the file.
- Do not judge the signature status from the ZIP contents alone.
- Avoid changing, deleting, or adding files inside the archive.
The signature shows as invalid after extraction or editing
Digital signatures cover the contents of the container. Extracting, modifying, or re-zipping files can break the relationship between the documents and their signatures.
- Go back to the original .asice file received from the sender.
- Open and validate the original container, not a rebuilt ZIP file.
- Ask the sender to resend the original file if it was altered.
No application is associated with .asice
Many operating systems do not include a built-in ASiC-E viewer or validator.
- Install the e-signature software recommended by the organization, country, or service that created the file.
- Try opening the file from inside that application rather than double-clicking it.
- If you are outside the sender's usual environment, ask which validation application they expect you to use.
The validation app reports missing or unknown certificate information
Signature validation may depend on certificate chains, timestamps, and trust services that the application must be able to check.
- Update the validation application before opening the file.
- Make sure the computer has internet access if the app needs to check certificate or revocation status.
- If the result remains unclear, request a new container or validation instructions from the issuing service.
FAQ
Can I rename .asice to .zip?
Because ASiC-E is ZIP-based, a copy may open in a ZIP tool, but renaming is not a conversion and does not validate the signature. Use an ASiC-E validation application for official or legal use.
What is the difference between .asice and .sce?
Both extensions are associated with ASiC-E containers according to the registered media type information. .asice is the commonly seen extension in many e-signature workflows.
Is .asice the same as an ordinary archive file?
Not exactly. It is ZIP-based, but its purpose is to preserve signed content together with electronic signatures and related validation data.
Why did I receive a .asice file instead of a PDF?
The sender may be using an electronic signature system that packages the original document and the signature data together. Open the .asice file with a compatible validation application to view the signed contents and signature status.
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