How Can I Open Octet-Stream?

Knowledge of which file type you are trying to receive is important.

Occasionally, you might encounter an unfamiliar file type of something you download. Maybe you intended to download an MP3 or a PDF. You may have expected to download, click and open the file, but some tasks just aren't that simple. You may try to open a file, and an error message may state the file is a type of "application/octet-stream" and Microsoft Windows doesn't know how to handle the file. An octet-stream is a generic file type with no specification of how to open it. If you are equipped with the right information, opening this file type is not difficult.

Instructions

1. Observe which file type you try to open. Some octet-stream files have an extension, such as .pdf, .exe or .mp3. If the file does not have an extension, use your best judgment to assume what file type it might be. If, for example you received it as an email attachment from a friend who wrote that she would like you to listen to the attached song, then it's most likely one of the popular music file types, such as .mp3, .wav or .wma.

2. Download the octet-stream to a location that you will remember and is simple to find, such as your computer's desktop.

3. Right-click on the file. A menu of options will display.

4. Select "Open With..." from among the menu of options that displayed. A new menu of options will appear.

5. Select from the new menu that appeared a program installed on your computer that you believe may open the file. Make the program selection by clicking on the program's name. If you suspect the file might be a music file, open a related program such as iTunes, Microsoft Windows Media Player or VLC Media Player. If you suspect it might be a .pdf file, open a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader or FoxIt Reader. After selecting an installed program, the file should open automatically.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have no idea what file type it is supposed to be, it's best to ask the person who sent it to you or to contact the owner of the website from which you are trying to download it.

• Opening the file in the wrong program will not harm your computer or the file.

References

• Indiana University: What is an "Application/Octet-Stream" MIME Attachment, and How Can I See it?
• MIME Types Database, MIME Application Octet-Stream: Description for MIME Application/Octet-Stream