File Extension/CAB
alphabetical list of extensions

File extension .CAB

File description

The files that comprise of the CAB format are the archive files. The CAB term signifies the word Cabinet, which is in reference to the nature of such files.

Such files take on multiple files and then stores them in one archive file folder. The format enables for the compression of the files so that the size of the file becomes much smaller than the actual size to be transmitted or stored individually. This makes it a lot easier to transmit large data files via email or over the Web. A large number of Microsoft programs make use of the CAB file extension for their installation engines like the Device Installer, Setup API, and the Windows Installer applications.

Description of the problem
If you have on your computer a .CAB file that you cannot open, you are in exactly the same situation as thousands of other people who have similar problems with this or any other unknown file.

There may be several reasons why you cannot open the file with .CAB extension. Directly on this website you can find a solution of the most common problem with the .CAB file – that you do not have on your computer the appropriate program to open the file.
Solution
From the list below, select the appropriate program, install it and double click on the icon of a file that did not want to open - the problem with the .CAB file extension should be solved. However, if this does not happen, go back to the website to learn about other possible causes of the error, which have been described at the bottom of the website.
Category
System Files
Developer
Microsoft
Popularity
StarStarStarStarStar
File name: Windows Cabinet File
Programs that will open this file:
Windows
Windows
7-Zip 7-Zip
Advanced Archive Repair Advanced Archive Repair
Advanced CAB Repair Advanced CAB Repair
ALZip ALZip
Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows
PeaZip PeaZip
Windows Installer Windows Installer
WinRAR WinRAR
WinZip WinZip
ZipGenius ZipGenius
ZipZag ZipZag
Mac OS
Mac OS
iArchiver iArchiver
Unarchiver Unarchiver
WinZip WinZip
Linux
Linux
cabextract cabextract
Xarchiver Xarchiver
Remember!
The .CAB file extension can correspond to several not related file formats. If there is more than one file format with the .CAB extension, you will probably find most of them at this website. Remember that you need to download a program to support a particular file type. So first look through the entire contents of the website to select a program to support just the file you have.

Other possible reasons why your .CAB file does not want to open

In addition to the problem described above, i.e. the lack of the appropriate application to support the .CAB file, there may be several reasons that cause problems with opening and operation of the data format:

1. Incorrect version of the installed application

A quite common problem is the lack of application in the appropriate version. Even if you have an application, with the help of which you should open the .CAB file, you may have a problem with it because of its version. Perhaps in previous versions the application has not yet supported the .CAB file, so download the update and check again.

2. Incorrect .CAB file association with the program

If you have already installed the appropriate application, and it is the correct version, the file may not open correctly, because the operating system does not have information that this program supports the file. So you need to "show" which program the computer should use. To do this:

  • Right-click the .CAB file
  • Go to the "Open with" - then "Choose default program ..."
  • Locate the appropriate application
  • Click "OK"

3. The file is corrupt

It also happens that the file you want to open is corrupt and therefore there is no such possibility. In this situation, you should find its different version, or ask a person from whom you got, to send it again.