Tips to open ABC file

Can't open the ABC file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ABC files as well as a list of programs that support ABC files.

ABC file extension

File Name ABC Music Notation
File Category Audio Files

The ABC file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ABC files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ABC file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 6
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ABC file?

The file in the ABC format belongs to the Audio Files category. In addition to this file, the Audio Files category includes 771 related files. ABC Music Notation is supported by 4 operating systems. These systems consist of Linux, Mac OS, Web, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. There are also 9 alternative programs to handle the ABC file. Melody Assistant, MuseScore, abc2win, Muse will apply when it is not possible to use BarFly.

How to open ABC file?

An often recurring problem with ABC Music Notation is that ABC is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that ABC files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ABC file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install BarFly

In this case, you should first verify that the BarFly application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name BarFly into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support ABC files.

Step 2. Create association of BarFly with ABC files

If, despite the installed application, the ABC file does not start in the BarFly application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the ABC file with the BarFly program.

Step 3. Update BarFly to the latest version

If, despite the association of the BarFly program with the ABC Music Notation file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ABC file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the ABC file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our ABC file. Sometimes virus-infected ABC files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the ABC file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair ABC file corruption.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file ABC except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the ABC file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the ABC file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.