Tips to open JSON file

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

JSON file extension

File Name JavaScript Object Notation Format
File Category Web Files

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

Operating systems
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is JSON file?

The .JSON file is a text file. It contains computer data written in JSON. It is used to exchange data between computer systems. It is related to the .XML file type, however it has different writing rules. The JSON syntax is based on braces and is similar to the code written in JavaScript. Files in this format are readable and can be analyzed by a human. .JSON files, due to more consistent syntax, are often smaller than their equivalents, e.g. in XML format.

How to open JSON file?

The main problem with JavaScript Object Notation Format is that the JSON file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file JSON to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the JSON 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 TextEdit

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that TextEdit is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name TextEdit in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file JSON.

Step 2. Create association of TextEdit with JSON files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the JSON file still does not use the TextEdit program, it means no association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the TextEdit application as the default for handling the JSON file.

Step 3. Update TextEdit to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the TextEdit program, it is possible that JavaScript Object Notation Format requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Apple, Inc. page and install.

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

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The JSON file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the JSON file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our JSON file. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover JSON files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the JSON 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.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular JSON file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted JSON 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 operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move JSON to a different directory.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the JSON file is blocked by the first application to open it. 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 JSON file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.