What is a .par2 file?
A .par2 file is a parchive archive. Its registered MIME type is application/x-par2, which places it in the application or document family of formats.
Parchive stands for Parity Volume Set Archive.
PAR2 is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
PAR2 file format details
| Extension | .par2 |
|---|---|
| Format | Parchive archive |
| MIME type | application/x-par2 |
| Category | Application or document |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | None fixed |
| Registered with IANA | No |
| Other extensions | None |
How to open PAR2 files
| Windows | PAR2 files (Parchive archive) are made by specific software. The reliable way to open one is with the program that created it; a generic viewer will only show raw data. |
|---|---|
| Mac | The same applies on a Mac: look for a Mac version of the program that makes PAR2 files. |
| iPhone and iPad | Phones rarely open this type of file directly. The viewer above can show what is inside it without installing anything. |
| Android | The same applies on Android. The viewer above shows the first bytes of the file so you can confirm what it is. |
Can you convert a .par2 file?
TapToConvert does not convert PAR2 files. The usual route is to open the file in the program that made it and use its Export or Save as option.
PAR2 file FAQ
What is a .par2 file?
A .par2 file is a parchive archive, with the MIME type application/x-par2.
How do I open a .par2 file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .par2 file safe to open?
PAR2 files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.
What is the MIME type of .par2?
application/x-par2. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is PAR2 a text or binary format?
Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.
File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.