Tips to open TMP file

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

TMP file extension

File Name Temporary Format
File Category Backup Files

The TMP file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the TMP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the TMP file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is TMP file?

A .TMP file is a temporary file. Its use and presence depend on the software that uses it. Therefore, there is no standard defining its structure or application. The most common use for a temporary file is a temporary container. Instead of overwriting the target file when copying, e.g. from the network, the content of the new file is downloaded to a temporary file and only overwritten after verification. The mechanism is used by installers and when overwriting large files.

How to open TMP file?

The main problem with Temporary Format is that the TMP file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file TMP to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the TMP 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 Microsoft Word

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Microsoft Word is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Microsoft Word 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 TMP with Microsoft Word. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open TMP files.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Word with TMP files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the TMP file to open in the Microsoft Word application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting 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. 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 TMP file with the Microsoft Word program.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Word to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Microsoft Word program with the Temporary Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Microsoft Corporation page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the TMP 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:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to TMP 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 computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file TMP or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected TMP files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of TMP 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.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular TMP file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted TMP files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the TMP file to another location.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. In this case, the TMP file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the TMP file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the TMP file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.