.URI file extension

To open .URI files on Windows, right-click the .URI file → Open with → choose a text editor (for example, Notepad) to view the URI list.

To open a .URI file, treat it as a plain text file containing links (URIs). Open it with a text editor to view or edit, then copy/paste the links into a browser or the relevant app.

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Last updated: June 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker

What “reviewed” means on this page

Format fit: whether the “what is this file?” description matches common real-world use of the extension, including category, typical MIME types, and aliases.
Opening paths: whether Windows / macOS / Linux steps read plausibly for current OS dialogs and default apps; we remove fantasy menus and unsafe shortcuts.
Security framing: whether risk notes match the extension class (for example executables vs plain data) and whether affiliate wording does not contradict the security section.
Sources and further reading: whether external links point to vendors, standards bodies, or other primary references where possible; we avoid inventing details we cannot ground.
Limits: this is clarity and safety-messaging QA, not a guarantee that every statement is exhaustive or that every binary you download is harmless.

Full methodology in the Imprint — The Imprint also states where AI is used and what that does—and does not—replace.

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .URI files

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

Windows

Right-click the .URI file → Open with → choose a text editor (for example, Notepad) to view the URI list.
Copy a URI line and paste it into your web browser or the appropriate application to open the link.

Full Windows guide

Mac

Control-click the .URI file → Open With → choose a plain-text editor (for example, TextEdit set to plain text).
Copy a URI line and paste it into a browser or the relevant app.

Full Mac guide

Linux

Open the .URI file with a text editor from your file manager (Open With → a text editor) to inspect its contents.
If your desktop environment recognizes it via shared-mime-info, you can also set the default handler for text/uri-list in your file association settings.

Full Linux guide

iOS

Open the file in the Files app and use a text-capable viewer/editor (or Share → open in a notes/text app) to view the URI lines, then copy/paste the link into a browser.

Full iOS guide

Android

Open the file with a text editor app or a file manager that can display plain text, then copy/paste the URI into your browser or the relevant app.

Full Android guide

Security notes

.URI files are plain text but can contain URIs that trigger sensitive actions (for example opening local file:// paths or launching registered URI schemes); inspect the file in a text editor before opening any links.
Be cautious with .URI files from untrusted sources: a safe-looking filename may point to a deceptive or malicious URL, or to a local/network path you did not intend to access.
Because lines starting with “#” are comments, attackers can hide intent in long lists; review the full file and only open the specific URIs you recognize.

If you did not expect this file

This extension is usually plain data, text, or structured content—not a program by itself. The practical risk is social engineering (a scam attachment or misleading filename). For trusted senders you rarely need heavy-handed antivirus wording; use these tools when you want an extra check on unexpected downloads.

Avast

Avast offers free and premium antivirus software that protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing. Scan files before opening them to ensure safety.

Norton

Norton 360 delivers comprehensive antivirus protection, VPN, and identity theft monitoring. Scan files for threats before opening to keep your device secure.

We may earn a commission when you use affiliate links. This supports our free file extension guides.

Can't open this file?

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

Common reasons

It opens as unreadable content or in the wrong app
Clicking a link fails (nothing happens or the app says the URI is invalid)
Linux desktop does not recognize .URI as a URI list

Fix steps

Force-open it with a plain text editor to confirm whether it contains one URI per line (and optional # comments).
If it is not plain text or does not look like a URI list, ask the sender what created it and what format it is supposed to be.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .URI file?

A .URI file most commonly corresponds to the text/uri-list format defined in RFC 2483 and registered by IANA as the media type text/uri-list. The content is line-based: each non-empty line is a URI, and lines beginning with “#” are comments. RFC 2483 explicitly recommends the .uri (and .uris) filename extensions for this format.

Background

The text/uri-list format is a deliberately simple interchange format for sharing a set of URIs (for example, multiple web links or file:// references) between applications. Because it is plain text, it is easy to create, inspect, and debug with basic tools.

On desktop systems, this format is often used behind the scenes for “drag-and-drop” or clipboard transfers of links, and for saving a list of links to a file. Linux desktop environments commonly rely on the shared-mime-info database to map filename extensions (globs) like .uri to MIME types and to choose default apps.

In practice, many programs can open a .URI file simply because it is text. The most reliable way to handle it is to open it in a text editor first, confirm what the links point to, and then open only the specific URIs you trust.

Common MIME types: text/uri-list

Common .URI issues

It opens as unreadable content or in the wrong app

A .URI file should be plain text; if it opens in an unexpected app or looks garbled, the file may not actually be a text/uri-list file or it may use an unexpected encoding.

Force-open it with a plain text editor to confirm whether it contains one URI per line (and optional # comments).
If it is not plain text or does not look like a URI list, ask the sender what created it and what format it is supposed to be.

Clicking a link fails (nothing happens or the app says the URI is invalid)

URIs must be properly formed (for example, https://..., file://...) and some apps only accept specific schemes.

Open the .URI file in a text editor and check for typos, extra spaces, or wrapped lines; each URI should be on a single line.
Try opening the same URI by pasting it into a web browser to verify it is valid and reachable.

Linux desktop does not recognize .URI as a URI list

File associations on Linux desktops often depend on the shared-mime-info database and local MIME/application defaults.

Confirm the file is a valid text/uri-list (one URI per line, optional # comments).
Use your desktop environment’s file association settings to associate .uri files with a text editor or a preferred handler for text/uri-list.

FAQ

What is inside a .URI file?

Usually it is a text/uri-list: a plain-text list where each non-empty line is a URI, and lines starting with “#” are comments (per RFC 2483).

Can I open a .URI file in a web browser directly?

Browsers may display it as text, but the most reliable approach is to open it in a text editor first, then copy/paste individual URIs you want to open.

Is .URI the same as text/uri-list?

In common usage, yes: RFC 2483 defines the text/uri-list media type and explicitly recommends the .uri (and .uris) file extensions.

Can I convert a .URI file by renaming it?

Renaming does not convert the contents. If you need another format (for example, a bookmark file), you must use an app or tool that imports a URI list and exports the desired format.

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