Tips to open LNK file
Can't open the LNK file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open LNK files as well as a list of programs that support LNK files.
LNK file extension
| File Name |
Windows Format Shortcut |
| File Developer |
Microsoft |
| File Category |
System Files |
The LNK file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the LNK files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the LNK file on each system platform.
What is LNK file?
The .LNK file is a shortcut in Windows. The .LNK extension is hidden from the system, so even if you uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types" it will not be visible. It is possible to discover this extension, but it requires manual modification of the registry which is not recommended. When the shortcut is run, the target file is called. The file is invoked directly if it is an executable or the associated program otherwise. If the file is not in the indicated location, the system will display a prompt with which we can manually search for the indicated file.
How to open LNK file?
The most common problem when using Windows Format Shortcut is that a specific LNK is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that LNK 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 LNK 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 Parallels Desktop
In this case, you should first verify that the Parallels Desktop application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Parallels Desktop into the system search engine. 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 LNK files.
Programs to open LNK file
Remember to download programs supporting LNK files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Parallels Desktop with LNK files
If, despite the installed application, the LNK file does not start in the Parallels Desktop 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 set the program to handle this type. 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 Parallels Desktop application as the default for handling the LNK file.
Step 3. Update Parallels Desktop to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Parallels Desktop program with the Windows Format Shortcut file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the LNK 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 LNK file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the LNK file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
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. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the LNK file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover LNK 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 LNK 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 LNK file corruption.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted LNK 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. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the LNK file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the LNK file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.
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