.CLKW file extension

To open .CLKW files on Windows, install and open Clicker (Crick Software) on Windows.

To open a .CLKW file, use Clicker by Crick Software (Windows or Mac). If you don’t have Clicker installed, the file usually won’t open correctly in standard document editors, so avoid renaming the extension and instead open it in the proper app.

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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 .CLKW files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .CLKW files safely.

Windows

Install and open Clicker (Crick Software) on Windows.
In Clicker, use the app’s Open/Import option (or double-click the .CLKW file if Clicker is already associated with it).
If Windows asks what to open it with, choose Clicker and (optionally) set it as the default for .CLKW files.

Full Windows guide

Mac

Install and open Clicker (Crick Software) on macOS.
Control-click the .CLKW file → Open With → Clicker (or open it from within Clicker).
If you want it to always open in Clicker: Get Info on the file → Open with → Clicker → Change All.

Full Mac guide

Linux

Be aware that Clicker is the commonly listed program for .CLKW; if you do not have Clicker available on Linux, you may not be able to open the file meaningfully.
If your desktop environment recognizes the MIME type, try “Open With” to see if any installed software claims support; otherwise transfer the file to a Windows or macOS system with Clicker.

Full Linux guide

iOS

iOS typically won’t open .CLKW directly in a useful way; save it in the Files app and transfer/share it to a Windows or macOS computer with Clicker.

Full iOS guide

Android

Android typically won’t open .CLKW directly in a useful way; download/store the file and transfer it to a Windows or macOS computer with Clicker.

Full Android guide

Security notes

.CLKW is an application-specific file intended for Clicker; treat it like any file that will be parsed by an app—only open files from sources you trust.
Because the IANA registration indicates no published specification, third-party tools may handle the format unreliably; prefer opening in Clicker to reduce the risk of mis-parsing or unexpected behavior.
If you obtained the file via email or download, verify the sender and context before opening—unexpected attachments can be a social-engineering tactic even when the file type itself is not executable.

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Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .CLKW files fail to open.

Common reasons

Windows/macOS says it can’t open the .CLKW file
The file opens in the wrong app or shows as an unknown file type
The .CLKW file seems corrupted or incomplete
Linux recognizes the extension but nothing can open it

Fix steps

Install Clicker (Crick Software) and try opening the file again.
Use “Open with…” (Windows) or “Open With…” (macOS) and explicitly select Clicker, then set it as the default if prompted.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .CLKW file?

.CLKW is associated with the IANA-registered MIME type application/vnd.crick.clicker.wordbank and is intended for Clicker by Crick Software. It is used as a “pop-up word bank” resource rather than a general-purpose text document. The IANA registration notes that there is no published specification, so compatibility is primarily tied to Clicker.

Background

.CLKW files are used by Clicker (from Crick Software) to provide word bank content that can pop up while a user is working, supporting writing and literacy workflows. In practice, these files act more like an application-specific resource than a typical “document” you would edit with Word or Google Docs.

From a technical/interop perspective, .CLKW is recognized via the registered media type application/vnd.crick.clicker.wordbank (with .clkw as the file extension). Because the IANA entry indicates that no public specification is published, third-party apps may not reliably support the format.

On Linux desktops, file type detection commonly relies on the shared-mime-info system (Freedesktop.org), which maps extensions to MIME types. Even if the MIME type is recognized, you may still need Clicker on a supported platform to actually open and use the word bank content.

Common MIME types: application/vnd.crick.clicker.wordbank

Common .CLKW issues

Windows/macOS says it can’t open the .CLKW file

This usually happens when Clicker isn’t installed, or when the file association is set to the wrong program.

Install Clicker (Crick Software) and try opening the file again.
Use “Open with…” (Windows) or “Open With…” (macOS) and explicitly select Clicker, then set it as the default if prompted.

The file opens in the wrong app or shows as an unknown file type

File associations may be missing or misconfigured, especially after installing/uninstalling software.

Manually choose Clicker via the OS “Open with” menu and set it as the default for .CLKW.
Do not rename the extension to .zip, .docx, or .txt—this won’t convert the file and can make troubleshooting harder.

The .CLKW file seems corrupted or incomplete

If the download/email transfer was interrupted, Clicker may fail to load the word bank data.

Re-download or request the file again from the sender/source, preferably using a reliable transfer method.
Compare file sizes (if available) with the sender’s copy and try opening the re-downloaded file in Clicker.

Linux recognizes the extension but nothing can open it

Linux MIME databases can map .clkw to a MIME type, but a supporting application is still required to interpret the content.

Check whether any installed software offers Clicker-compatible support; if not, plan to open the file on Windows or macOS with Clicker.
If you manage a Linux desktop environment, ensure shared-mime-info is up to date so the file is at least identified correctly.

FAQ

What program opens a .CLKW file?

Clicker by Crick Software is the commonly listed program for opening .CLKW (Clicker pop-up word bank) files on Windows and macOS.

Is .CLKW a normal document like DOCX or PDF?

Not really. Despite sometimes being described as a “document file,” .CLKW is primarily a Clicker word bank resource file, so typical office apps usually can’t open it correctly.

What is the MIME type for .CLKW?

The IANA-registered MIME type is application/vnd.crick.clicker.wordbank, and it lists .clkw as the file extension.

Can I convert a .CLKW file by renaming the extension?

No. Renaming only changes the filename suffix and does not convert the underlying data. If you need a different format, look for an export option inside Clicker (if available).

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