[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"extension:v3:en:crx":3},{"resolvedFromAlias":4,"canonicalExt":5,"ext":5,"name":6,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"updatedAt":9,"popularity":10,"summary":11,"howToOs":12,"quickAnswer":18,"answerIntro":19,"whatIs":20,"description":21,"furtherReading":22,"openInstructions":38,"commonIssues":52,"securityNotes":71,"faq":75,"aliases":88,"mimeTypes":89,"relatedExtensions":91,"breadcrumbs":137,"categoryAnchor":147,"categoryFuturePath":148,"metaDescription":149,"availableHowToOs":150,"openOnDeviceLinks":151,"cannotOpenReasons":167,"cannotOpenFixes":168,"convertOptions":169,"securityAffiliateMessaging":170,"securityAffiliates":171},false,"crx","Chrome/Chromium Extension Package (CRX)","archives","Archives","2026-06-12T09:17:58.304Z",55,".crx is the packaged format used to distribute Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browser extensions. It is essentially a signed wrapper around a ZIP archive containing the extension’s files.",[13,14,15,16,17],"windows","mac","linux","ios","android","To open .CRX files on Windows, if you want to install it: open a Chromium-based browser that supports CRX extension installation (for example, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge).","To open a .crx file, install it in a Chromium-based browser (commonly Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge). If you need to inspect its contents, treat it like an extension package that contains a ZIP payload after a small CRX header.","A CRX file is a packaged Chrome/Chromium extension. Technically, it starts with the magic string \"Cr24\" and includes versioned header data followed by an embedded ZIP archive containing the extension files. Newer CRX3 packaging uses a header length field and a binary header before the ZIP payload.","CRX is the distribution container for Chrome/Chromium extensions. Users typically encounter it when installing an extension outside of an official store (for example, in managed/enterprise environments) or when developers package an extension for deployment.\n\nThe file format is a small CRX header followed by the actual extension as a ZIP archive appended after that header. The CRX header begins with the \"Cr24\" magic value and includes versioning information; CRX3 defines a structure with a header length and a binary header, then a ZIP archive.\n\nWhen hosting CRX files for installation, Google’s documentation specifies using the HTTP Content-Type application/x-chrome-extension. Because CRX packages can install browser functionality, they should be treated as potentially sensitive and only installed from sources you trust.",[23,26,29,32,35],{"title":24,"url":25},"CRX Package Format - Google Chrome Extensions (technical reference)","https://www.dre.vanderbilt.edu/~schmidt/android/android-4.0/external/chromium/chrome/common/extensions/docs/crx.html",{"title":27,"url":28},"Installing extensions on Linux | Manifest V2 | Chrome for Developers (CRX hosting, Content-Type)","https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/mv2/linux-hosting",{"title":30,"url":31},"crx3.proto (Chromium source in Debian) - CRX3 structure","https://sources.debian.org/src/chromium/120.0.6099.224-1~deb11u1/components/crx_file/crx3.proto",{"title":33,"url":34},"Managing Extensions (Google support material referencing CRX packaging and content type)","https://storage.googleapis.com/support-kms-prod/TYq1FnEDxENq9EFFlRHdMk8l1lrGDSb5S6Iz",{"title":36,"url":37},"FileInfo: CRX File - What is a .crx file and how do I open it?","https://fileinfo.com/extension/crx",{"windows":39,"macos":42,"linux":45,"ios":48,"android":50},[40,41],"If you want to install it: open a Chromium-based browser that supports CRX extension installation (for example, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge).","Use the browser’s extension management page and follow its flow for loading/adding an extension package; if the browser blocks direct CRX installation, use an approved/managed deployment method instead (common in enterprise environments).",[43,44],"If you want to install it: open a Chromium-based browser that supports CRX extension installation (for example, Google Chrome).","Use the browser’s extensions management page to add the extension; if installation is restricted, use your organization’s approved method for installing extensions.",[46,47],"If you are hosting/installing a CRX from a web server, ensure the server serves it with Content-Type: application/x-chrome-extension.","Install the extension through your Chromium-based browser using your approved method (especially on managed systems, where policy-based installation is common).",[49],"iOS browsers do not generally install desktop-style Chromium CRX extensions; move the file to a desktop OS with a Chromium-based browser to install or inspect it.",[51],"Android versions of Chromium-based browsers typically do not support installing CRX extension packages like desktop browsers; transfer the file to a desktop OS to install or inspect it.",[53,59,65],{"title":54,"description":55,"steps":56},"Browser refuses to install the .crx file","Many Chromium-based browsers restrict or block direct CRX installs (especially outside official stores or when not allowed by policy).",[57,58],"Confirm you are using a Chromium-based browser that supports extension installation (Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-based browser).","If the system is managed (enterprise), use the organization’s approved deployment method for extensions rather than manual installation.",{"title":60,"description":61,"steps":62},"Web server download/install fails for a hosted CRX","If a CRX is hosted for installation, an incorrect HTTP Content-Type can prevent correct handling by the browser.",[63,64],"Configure the server to serve .crx with Content-Type application/x-chrome-extension.","Re-download and try again after confirming the correct response headers.",{"title":66,"description":67,"steps":68},"Trying to open it like a normal ZIP doesn’t work","A CRX is not just a ZIP; it has a CRX header before the ZIP payload, so some archive tools may not recognize it directly.",[69,70],"If you only need to inspect the extension files, use tools or workflows that can handle a CRX header plus ZIP payload (the ZIP archive is appended after the CRX header).","If your goal is installation, install it through a Chromium-based browser rather than extracting it.",[72,73,74],"A .crx installs browser extension code, which can read/modify web pages and access browser extension APIs; only install CRX files from sources you trust.","CRX packages contain a ZIP payload (the extension’s files) and are wrapped with CRX-specific header/signing data; do not assume that renaming it to .zip makes it safe to inspect or run.","When hosting CRX files, serve them with the correct Content-Type (application/x-chrome-extension) to avoid unintended handling; also ensure downloads come from trusted, controlled locations in managed environments.",[76,79,82,85],{"question":77,"answer":78},"What program opens a .crx file?","Chromium-based web browsers install/open CRX as extension packages, including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.",{"question":80,"answer":81},"Is a .crx file just a ZIP archive?","It contains a ZIP archive, but it also has a CRX header first. The CRX header starts with the magic value \"Cr24\", and the ZIP payload comes after the header.",{"question":83,"answer":84},"What MIME type should a server use for .crx files?","Google’s documentation specifies application/x-chrome-extension for hosting CRX files.",{"question":86,"answer":87},"What is CRX3?","CRX3 is a newer CRX format variant defined in Chromium sources: it uses the \"Cr24\" magic, includes version and header-length fields, then a binary header followed by the ZIP archive.",[],[90],"application/x-chrome-extension",[92,98,104,110,116,122,127,132],{"ext":93,"name":94,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":95,"summary":96,"howToOs":97},"zip","ZIP Archive",93,"ZIP archives are widely used to compress and bundle multiple files or folders for easier storage and sharing.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":99,"name":100,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":101,"summary":102,"howToOs":103},"rar","RAR Archive",66,".rar files are compressed archive containers used to bundle and compress one or more files, often including split (multi-part) archives. They’re commonly opened by WinRAR and can usually be extracted by tools like 7-Zip and The Unarchiver.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":105,"name":106,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":107,"summary":108,"howToOs":109},"bz2","bzip2 Compressed File",65,".bz2 is a bzip2-compressed file, typically used to shrink a single file for storage or download. To use the contents, you usually decompress it with an extractor such as 7-Zip or the bzip2 command-line tool.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":111,"name":112,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":113,"summary":114,"howToOs":115},"7z","7-Zip Archive",64,"A .7z file is a 7-Zip compressed archive, commonly used to bundle and compress files with high compression ratios. Open it with 7-Zip on Windows or compatible archive tools such as WinRAR, Keka, The Unarchiver, p7zip, ZArchiver, or RAR.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":117,"name":118,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":119,"summary":120,"howToOs":121},"gz","Gzip Compressed File",57,"GZ files are compressed using the gzip algorithm, commonly used for reducing file size and bundling files with TAR.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":123,"name":124,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":10,"summary":125,"howToOs":126},"br","Brotli-compressed data",".br files contain data compressed with the Brotli algorithm, commonly used for web delivery. You open them by decompressing with Brotli tools or compatible archivers, then opening the extracted original file.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":128,"name":129,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":10,"summary":130,"howToOs":131},"ipa","iOS/iPadOS App Store Package (IPA)",".ipa is the package format for iOS/iPadOS apps. It is essentially a ZIP archive that contains an app bundle (typically under Payload/*.app) and related metadata used for installation and distribution.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":133,"name":134,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":10,"summary":135,"howToOs":136},"obb","Android APK Expansion File (OBB)",".obb files are Android APK expansion files used to deliver large app assets (such as game data) outside the main APK. They are typically used by Android apps and the Android OS rather than opened directly by users.",[13,14,15,16,17],[138,141,144],{"label":139,"to":140},"Home","/",{"label":142,"to":143},"File Extension Index","/file-extension",{"label":145,"to":146},".CRX","/file-extension/crx","category-archives","/category/archives","Learn what .CRX files are, how to open them on every platform, common fixes, and security best practices.",[13,14,15,16,17],[152,155,158,161,164],{"os":13,"label":153,"to":154},"Open .CRX on Windows","/how-to/open-crx-on-windows",{"os":14,"label":156,"to":157},"Open .CRX on Mac","/how-to/open-crx-on-mac",{"os":15,"label":159,"to":160},"Open .CRX on Linux","/how-to/open-crx-on-linux",{"os":16,"label":162,"to":163},"Open .CRX on iOS","/how-to/open-crx-on-ios",{"os":17,"label":165,"to":166},"Open .CRX on Android","/how-to/open-crx-on-android",[54,60,66],[57,58],[],"archive",[172,176],{"name":173,"description":174,"affiliateUrl":175},"Avast","Avast offers free and premium antivirus software that protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing. Scan files before opening them to ensure safety.","https://www.avast.com/lp-aff-consumer-store?expid=inf601",{"name":177,"description":178,"affiliateUrl":179},"Norton","Norton 360 delivers comprehensive antivirus protection, VPN, and identity theft monitoring. Scan files for threats before opening to keep your device secure.","http://buy.norton.com/aff_home?utm_campaign=en-ww_nor_n36_aff_nas_nau_nah_cj_nad_low:_sec_nat_mktc_norton_360"]