What to do When WAVE Files Won’t Open

Why won’t your WAVE file open? You’ve tried double-clicking it, but it doesn’t come up, or you see an error message. So what do you do? This is a common issue with various file extensions because many extensions can be opened by multiple programs, and many programs can open a variety of extensions. It sounds confusing, but it's a lot easier to understand than you might think!

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Which program should you use?

Your computer may be trying to use the wrong program to open the WAVE file, or it may not have a program installed that can open the file. There are a few different programs you can use to open WAVE files, including Unknown Apple II File, and Waveform Audio. Try downloading one or more of these from the manufacturer’s website.

What type of file is it?

The file type is the key to opening WAVE files. WAVE files are usually considered Audio Files. You may already have a program on your computer that can open this type of file.

If the file type is unknown, you can find it in the file properties by following the steps below.

Computer Files
Windows:
  1. Right-click the file and click “Properties”.
  2. Look under “Type of File” for the file type.
Mac:
  1. Right-click the file and click “Properties".
  2. Look under “Kind” for the file type.

Who developed the software?

If you can’t find the right program to open your WAVE file, a software developer might be able to help you. Contact the developer of one of the most common programs for WAVE files from the list below.

Software Developer
Unknown Apple II File is developed by found on Golden Orchard Apple II CD Rom
Waveform Audio is developed by Microsoft Developer

Why not try a universal file viewer?

A universal file viewer is a program that can open files with a wide range of extensions, depending on the file format. When you have WAVE files you can’t open, a universal file viewer like File Magic (Download) can open it for you. Just remember that some files aren’t compatible with this type of program, and they will only open in binary format.


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