Home·File extensions

.vbs

Programs · text/vbscript

Opens with

Windows Script Host

Programs themselves, or their installers. If you do not know where one came from, do not open it.

MIME typetext/vbscript
CategoryPrograms
Opens in a browserNo
Plain textYes
Registered typeYes

How to read this

  • An extension is a label, not the contents. Rename a file to .png and if the bytes inside are JPEG, it is still a JPEG.
  • A MIME type is how the internet names a file kind. Browsers look at that value, not the extension, to decide whether to display or download.
  • A MIME type starting with x- was never registered as a standard. Plenty are in wide use, but they are not official names.
  • Video extensions name a container. The same .mp4 may play on one device and not another, depending on the codec inside.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is a .vbs file?

It belongs to the programs category and its MIME type is text/vbscript. The contents are plain text, so you can even open it in Notepad and read it.

Q. What opens a .vbs file?

Windows Script Host all handle it. In a browser it does not display — the browser downloads it instead.

Q. What is the MIME type of .vbs?

text/vbscript. The first half, text, names the broad kind; the second half, vbscript, names the exact format. It is a registered standard name.

Q. Can I convert a .vbs file to another format?

Yes — open it and re-save through a converter. Renaming alone changes only the label; the bytes stay put, and programs that check the real format may refuse to open it.

Q. My .vbs file will not open.

First check that Windows Script Host is installed. If it still fails, the download may have been cut short, or the file may only be named .vbs while holding a different format inside.

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