Tips to open FQ file

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

FQ file extension

File Name FASTQ Format
File Category Misc Files

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

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 2
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is FQ file?

The file with the extension FQ is the Misc Files file type. Misc Files consists of 6033 similar files. FASTQ Format appears on 3 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Linux, Mac OS, Windows. It is recommended to use Sublime Text to handle this file. This is a program created by Sublime HQ Pty Ltd. Alternatively, you can use 7 other programs. The PSPad, NotePad++ text editor, Atom programs will also handle the file when the Sublime Text program does not fulfill its role.

How to open FQ file?

The most common problem when using FASTQ Format is that a specific FQ is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that FQ 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 FQ 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. To do this, enter the name Sublime Text into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file FQ with Sublime Text. Below is a list of programs that support the file FQ.

Step 2. Create association of Sublime Text with FQ files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the FQ file to open in the Sublime Text application, but you can set it manually. 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 set the program to handle this type. 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. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Sublime Text application as the default for handling the FQ file.

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 FQ file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the FQ file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
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 FQ file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected FQ files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the FQ 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 FQ files. You can restore the file from a backup or use help.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted file FQ 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.
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. Copying the FQ file to another location will fix the problem.
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. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the FQ file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.