Tips to open ELF file

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

ELF file extension

File Name ELF Executable Format
File Developer Unix System Laboratories
File Category Executable Files

The ELF file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ELF files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ELF file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 5
  • 0
  • 6
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ELF file?

The file with the extension ELF is the Executable Files file type. The creator of this file is Unix System Laboratories. Executable Files consists of 140 similar files. ELF Executable Format is supported by 3 operating systems. The file will work on , Linux, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. There are also 15 alternative programs to handle the ELF file. Dolphin, NetBSD, NeutrinoSX2, PS2emu will apply when it is not possible to use readelf.

How to open ELF file?

The main problem with ELF Executable Format is that the ELF file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that ELF 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 ELF 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 readelf

The first step is to check if the computer has the readelf program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name readelf in it. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open ELF files.

Step 2. Create association of readelf with ELF files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the ELF file still does not use the readelf program, it means no 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. 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 ELF file with the readelf application.

Step 3. Update readelf to the latest version

If, however, after binding readelf with ELF Executable Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version.

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

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The ELF file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to ELF files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our ELF file. Sometimes virus-infected ELF files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of ELF file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular ELF file corruption.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted ELF files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the ELF 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. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the ELF file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.