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How to open .LSX files on Windows

To open .LSX files on Windows, double-click the .LSX file to try opening it in Microsoft Windows Media Player.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Double-click the .LSX file to try opening it in Microsoft Windows Media Player.
  2. If it opens in the wrong app, right-click → Open with → choose Windows Media Player (or another Windows Media–compatible player).
  3. If playback fails, confirm you have network access and the referenced stream is still available.

Common issues

The .LSX file opens but nothing plays

Many .LSX files are redirectors to a network stream. If the referenced stream is offline, moved, blocked, or requires access you don’t have, the player may show an error or do nothing.

  1. Check that you are online and (if relevant) connected to the correct VPN/corporate network.
  2. Try opening the .LSX on Windows Media Player (commonly supported for this file type).
  3. If you can view the file content as text, look for the referenced URL/stream and verify it still works.

Windows asks what app to use (no associated program)

If the file association for .LSX is missing, Windows won’t know which program should handle the streaming shortcut.

  1. Right-click the file → Open with → choose Microsoft Windows Media Player.
  2. Optionally set Windows Media Player as the default app for .LSX if you open these files regularly.

You expected a real video file, but .LSX is very small

.LSX commonly acts like a pointer/shortcut rather than containing the video itself, so file sizes can be only a few KB.

  1. Ask the sender whether they meant to provide the actual media file (e.g., an ASF/WMV file) instead of a streaming shortcut.
  2. Open the .LSX in a text editor to see what stream or media location it references.

The file opens on Windows but not on Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android

.LSX is primarily tied to Windows Media/ASF streaming associations and may not have common native support on other platforms.

  1. Use a Windows PC with Windows Media Player for the most straightforward opening experience.
  2. As a workaround, inspect the .LSX as text to extract the referenced stream and try opening that stream in a compatible player on your platform.

Security note

.LSX files are typically redirectors: treat them like you would a link. They may direct your player to a remote stream or server you did not expect.

Back to .LSX extension page