Tips to open CAP file
Can't open the CAP file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open CAP files as well as a list of programs that support CAP files.
CAP file extension
| File Name |
Packet Capture Format |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The CAP file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the CAP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the CAP file on each system platform.
What is CAP file?
A .CAP file is a data file. It contains a dump of network packets captured by network traffic monitoring software. This type of software is called a sniffer and can be used as an application or external device. It is mainly used by administrators to analyze network traffic or analyze the operation of suspicious applications. Based on .CAP files and network knowledge, some network security can be bypassed, making it a good tool for hackers.
How to open CAP file?
The main problem with Packet Capture Format is that the CAP file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that CAP files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the CAP 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 Wireshark
The first step is to check if the computer has the Wireshark program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Wireshark in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open CAP files.
Programs to open CAP file
Remember to download programs supporting CAP files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Wireshark with CAP files
If, despite the installed application, the CAP file does not start in the Wireshark application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the CAP file with the Wireshark application.
Step 3. Update Wireshark to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Wireshark program with the Packet Capture Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. In this case, use the Gerald Combs website or update the program from the application.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the CAP file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the CAP file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the CAP file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover CAP files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the CAP files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged CAP files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted CAP files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
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 CAP file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file CAP to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the CAP file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.
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