LNK format file opens special programs. To open given format, download one of the suggested programs.
How to open .lnk file
The LNK extension is a kind of "guide" used to link to a specific executable file. Another common name for the LNK format is label. Windows File Shortcut). Such a shortcut contains comprehensive information about the attributes of the executable file and the possibilities of its launch. Also, the LNK file may contain information about the directory where the executable file is contained.
As a rule, shortcuts are generated automatically when installing applications. However, there is a way to create them manually: to do this, you need to click on the area where you plan to create an LNK file, and select the menu option “ Create Shortcut”.
Visually, the icon of an LNK file is similar to the icon of an executable file, except that a cursor is usually displayed in the lower left part of the shortcut.
Programs to open LNK
Among the most popular software applications, with the use of which the LNK format is opened, we can distinguish:
- Flint Linkinfo (Windows OS);
- Codeweavers Crossover (Mac OS);
- Parallels desktop (Mac OS).
Convert LNK to other formats
LNK file is categorized system files. Convert for of this type files are not provided.
The main problems that may arise with the LNK file
The most common problem, common to all LNK extensions, is incorrect binding of a shortcut to an executable file. In other words, the wrong program was assigned to the shortcut. To fix this situation, you need to right-click on the shortcut, select the option " To open with”, and then select the desired application from the list of available applications or download it from the Internet.
Why exactly LNK and what are its advantages?
The main advantage of the LNK file is fast access to launch the required application. The user does not need to search for the executive .exe file, rummaging through the directory tree. It is enough just to store the shortcuts you need on the PC desktop, and launch it with a double click of the mouse.
A shortcut or "link" used by Windows as a link to the original file. Close to the Macintosh platform alternative. Contains the target shortcut type, placement information and name, as well as information about the program that opens the target file, and additional hot key. Can be created in Windows by right-clicking on the file and selecting the "Create Shortcut" option.
LNK files usually use the same icon as the target file, but add a small arrow to indicate that the file is pointing to a different location. When double-clicking on a file, the shortcut acts in the same way as if the user had clicked on the original file.
LNK files with program shortcuts (file ) can define attributes for how the program should be launched. To set the attributes, right-click on the shortcut file, select the "Properties" option, and change the Target field.
Note: Windows LNK files do not show the ".lnk" file extension even if the "Hide extensions for known file types" folder view properties are not selected. Although not recommended, users can customize the view by editing the "NeverShowExt" properties in the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile" Windows entry register.
While working with a computer Windows control The following problem may occur: when you click on a disk or network resource shortcut, the system displays a warning that the disk or network resource is not available to which the Ink shortcut refers. In most cases, this problem is not difficult to solve.
If you open a disk or resource through a shortcut, which, for example, is placed on the desktop, then the error “The disk or network resource referenced by the lnk shortcut is not available” occurs as a result of the address specified in the shortcut does not match the actual path.
To make it clearer, we present specific example. The user inserted a USB flash drive into the computer's USB port, and since he often uses this drive, he decided to move its shortcut from "Computer" to the desktop. After that, he inserted a USB flash drive into the same port many times and everything worked. However, at some point, the usual USB, for example, turned out to be busy, because of which the drive had to be connected to another port, and this time the flash drive did not open through a shortcut on the desktop, but instead an error window popped up.
The reason for the error of the inaccessibility of the disk or network resource to which the lnk shortcut refers is that when the user connected the USB flash drive to the same port, it was always given a name in the system, for example, "Disk G", but since now it is inserted into another USB, it has been given a different name.
In case of network drive, the reason is even simpler - the server is unavailable. Yes, ping can go to it, but there is no connectivity. Perhaps the access settings have been changed or something else.
If an access error occurs, it is more related to the hardware configuration, then when all icons, for example, on the desktop, have the lnk extension, the problem is due to a configuration change in the file association.
It can occur, for example, when the user tried to open a shortcut in some program and, when performing the corresponding action in the application selection menu, checked the checkbox “use the program for all files of this type” by default. As a result of this, shortcut files have become associated with the selected application, which is not able to launch programs by shortcut.
To return everything as it was, you can use the Unassociate File Types application.
- Download, install and open the program;
- In the search bar, type.lnk;
- Select .lnk from the filtered list;
- Click on "Remove File Association".
As a result of the performed actions, the associations set for this file type will be deleted. Now the shortcuts will open as they should, and the error "The disk or network resource to which the lnk shortcut refers" will not appear.
All shortcuts began to have the .lnk extension, how to fix it through the registry
If you don't want to install third party application, you can troubleshoot INK shortcuts through the registry. To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the key combination "CTRL + R";
- Enter "regedit" and click "Ok";
- Open the category "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT;
- In the list that appears, find .lnk and specify the value “lnkfile” in the parameters (if there is something else, then you must first delete the old value and only then enter and save the new one).
After that, the shortcuts will work again as they should.
In contact with
An LNK file is a shortcut that is used as a link to a specific file. Basically, this file format will refer to programs that have the .exe extension. The file with the .lnk extension will contain data about the type of object and the attributes of its launch.
The LNK format can also contain data about working folder, as well as the size of the window being opened, various system files can use such information. Often, a similar type of file is automatically generated by programs during their installation, however, the LNK file extension can also be created manually, for this, just right-click on the file or an empty area desktop and choose to create a shortcut.
A file with the LNK extension quite often duplicates the icon of the target file and differs from it by the designation of the arrow located in the lower left part of the icon. To open a file with the LNK extension, a standard double click left mouse button, because from the activation side, the shortcut file is no different from its original file.
In the operating room Windows system Vista, as well as Windows 7, users may encounter the factor that the shortcuts become the same in appearance, and it becomes possible to open LNK only with the help of a certain software. A similar problem occurs due to a file association violation. The problem is resolved by installing the Unassociate File Types utility for Microsoft Windows. After starting the program, select the .lnk extension in the list and press the delete file association key, restarting the computer, you can open the LNK file in the usual way.
Often, users are faced with a problem when all shortcuts are opened by one program. It can be a browser, notepad, Total Commander or other application. This usually happens if the user sets a default program to open files with the .lnk extension. As a result, the launch of any application ends with an error, since all shortcuts are opened by one program.
Fixing the problem
Solution for Windows 7
Press "Win + R" and enter "regedit". Click "OK".
The Registry Editor will open. We go along the branch "HKEY_CURRENT_USER", "Software", "Microsoft", "Windows", "CurrentVersion", "Explorer", "FileExts", ".lnk".
Here you need to delete the "UserChoice" subsection and restart the PC.
Solution for Windows XP
You need to download the Fixlnk utility. The archive will be loaded. Open it and click on the registry file. We agree to make changes.
We restart the computer.
It is worth noting that a similar situation can also arise with applications of the .exe extension. In this case, you will not be able to start the registry editor. Therefore, you need to boot from the installation disk or from a USB flash drive with Windows PE. Here you need to run the Registry Workshop utility, go to the registry branch "HKEY_CURRENT_USER", "Software", "Microsoft", "Windows", "CurrentVersion", "Explorer", "FileExts", ".exe" and delete the UserChoice subsection. After completing the operation, you need to restart the PC.