Tips to open FASTQ file

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

FASTQ file extension

File Name FASTQ Format
File Category Misc Files

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

Operating systems
  • 5
  • 2
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is FASTQ file?

The file in the FASTQ format belongs to the Misc Files category. Additionally, the Misc Files category contains 6033 of other files. FASTQ Format appears on 3 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The Sublime Text application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Sublime HQ Pty Ltd. Alternatively, you can use 8 other programs. You can use ChromasPro, PSPad, NotePad++ text editor, Atom in case Sublime Text cannot be used.

How to open FASTQ file?

The most common problem when using FASTQ Format is that a specific FASTQ is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open FASTQ, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the FASTQ 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 Sublime Text

The first step is to check if the computer has the Sublime Text program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Sublime Text 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 FASTQ files.

Step 2. Create association of Sublime Text with FASTQ files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the FASTQ file still does not use the Sublime Text 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. 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 FASTQ file with the Sublime Text program.

Step 3. Update Sublime Text to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Sublime Text program, it is possible that FASTQ Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Sublime HQ Pty Ltd website or update the program from the application.

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

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the FASTQ file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the FASTQ file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover FASTQ 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 FASTQ files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular FASTQ file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting , but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted FASTQ 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.
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. It is best to move FASTQ to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. However, some background programs may block the FASTQ file while scanning. If nothing helps, please reset the device.